DETROIT, MI – A Florida man was sentenced to 18 months behind bars for threatening to kill Muslims in Michigan.

Michael Shapiro, 73, was sentenced to prison on Thursday, March 20, for making death threats against members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter in 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Shapiro pleaded guilty to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce on Dec. 3, 2024, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

The Florida man also admitted to prosecutors that he intentionally chose to threaten the Council on American-Islamic Relations because of the religion and national origin of the people who are associated with the group.