Federal prosecutors in Detroit unsealed a new indictment Friday charging four more people in an alleged campaign of threats and vandalism aimed at the Jewish Federation of Detroit, University of Michigan leaders, campus police and businesses seen as having ties to Israel, according to The Detroit News and FOX 2 Detroit.
The 64-page indictment brings to 12 the number of people charged in the investigation, The Detroit News reported. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced the charges in a post on X, describing a “sprawling conspiracy” against the Jewish community and university officials.
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Four Additional Defendants in Sprawling Conspiracy Terrorizing Jewish Community, University of Michigan Officials
“These alleged attempts to terrorize our Jewish community and government officials are nothing new. From Pharaoh to Hitler to… pic.twitter.com/lYjUa2eeXZ
— U.S. Attorney EDMI (@USAO_MIE) October 30, 2026
Who was charged
The newly charged defendants are Henry David MacKeen-Shapiro, 23, of Detroit; Aaron Hunter Vonbargen, 25, of Ypsilanti; Joseph Mark Fisher, 23; and Srishti Tarana Sharma, 23, of Canada, according to The Detroit News. MacKeen-Shapiro and Vonbargen have been arrested and were expected to be arraigned in federal court Friday, while Fisher and Sharma are not in custody, FOX 2 Detroit reported.
Defense attorneys for the group are not listed in court records, The Detroit News reported. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What prosecutors allege
The defendants sought to pressure the University of Michigan and several companies into cutting ties with Israel, the Justice Department said, according to FOX 2 Detroit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the alleged activity included spray-painting threats, breaking windows and throwing glass jars filled with noxious chemicals into family homes, FOX 2 Detroit reported.
The group is also accused of throwing stink bombs into at least one university regent’s home and of talking about kidnapping and firebombing other targets, including a pro-life center, according to The Detroit News.
Prosecutors said the conspirators marked victims’ homes and workplaces with red handprints and red inverted triangles, symbols they said a t*rrorist group uses to mark targets, FOX 2 Detroit reported. The attacks were then shared on social media with warnings of more to come, according to the outlet.
Those targeted included the Jewish Federation of Detroit, two university regents and other university leaders, a campus police lieutenant, a student and two businesses with perceived ties to Israel, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
“Justice will find you”
“These alleged attempts to terrorize our Jewish community and government officials are nothing new,” U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon said in a statement, according to The Detroit News. “As Americans, our job is to fight the bad guys,” Gorgon said.
“Those who believe they can threaten families, hide behind a group, and avoid accountability should think again. Justice will find you,” Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said in a statement, according to The Detroit News and FOX 2 Detroit.
The earlier case
The new charges were unsealed five months after an initial indictment accused eight people of threats and vandalism designed to force the university to sever ties with Israel, The Detroit News reported. Those eight were charged after FBI raids in Ypsilanti, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Federal prosecutors allege one of the original defendants worked with the others to vandalize a Rolls-Royce Solutions America location in Novi and a Maersk building in Romulus, according to The Detroit News.
Sources
- The Detroit News (via ArcaMax Publishing)
- FOX 2 Detroit
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan, on X
Sources cited
Sources
- Original post: U.S. Attorney EDMI (@USAO_MIE) on X, Oct 30, 2026
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