PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Maryland man was sentenced Monday to 37 months in prison for mailing threatening communications to Jewish institutions across multiple states, federal prosecutors said.
Clift Seferlis, 55, of Garrett Park, Maryland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark A. Kearney to prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $40,000 fine, and a $2,200 special assessment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Seferlis pleaded guilty in November to 17 counts of mailing threatening communications and eight counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs.
Prosecutors said that between March 2024 and June 2025, Seferlis sent at least 40 letters and two postcards to more than 25 Jewish institutions, including synagogues, museums, schools, and community centers.
The communications included threats to damage buildings and harm individuals, according to court filings.
Authorities said the letters were intended to intimidate recipients and interfere with their ability to practice their religion.
“Threats directed at religious institutions are attacks not just on those communities but on the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans,” U.S. Attorney David Metcalf said.
“Individuals who attempt to intimidate or terrorize others because of their faith will face the full force of federal law,” Metcalf said.
Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, said the case reflects ongoing threats faced by religious communities.
“No one should have to live in fear because of who they are or what they believe,” Jacobs said. “The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting every member of our community.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, with assistance from the FBI’s Baltimore office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement agencies.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
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