A group of young activists have been released on bond after facing charges related to a conspiracy aimed at University of Michigan leaders for their refusal to divest from Israel. The incident involved eight defendants, including Zainab Hakim, Paige Feyock, Jonathan Zou, and Colin Weger, who appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti.
FBI Director Kash Patel initially announced seven arrests connected to the case. After entering not guilty pleas, the judge ordered their release on bond with conditions such as surrendering passports, avoiding contact with the victims or co-defendants, and submitting to GPS monitoring, as reported by CBS News.
FBI NABS 7 FOR ALLEGED ‘CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE’ TO PRESSURE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, BUSINESSES OVER ISRAEL TIES
A photo revealed threatening graffiti on the Jewish Federation building, marking the anniversary of Hamas attacks in Israel. Throughout the hearing, prosecutors insisted the defendants were a flight risk and posed a community threat, focusing on social media posts as evidence.
Following the attacks by Hamas in 2023, the accused allegedly coordinated to intimidate university leaders, law enforcement, and businesses deemed supporters of Israel. The U.S Attorney’s Office shared an incident of intimidation, showing fake corpses placed outside the home of University of Michigan Regent Sarah Hubbard in May 2024.
Hubbard expressed gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement, acknowledging their role in the charges brought, according to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors indicated the defendants defaced various properties with phrases like “Free Palestine,” “Divest Now,” and “Intifada,” most visibly on the campus’ Jewish Federation Building on the Oct. 7 attack anniversary. Additional threats included sealed doors, entryways locked with bike chains, broken windows, and glass jars tossed into homes. The defendants reportedly documented and shared photographs of the damage online.
The indictment accused co-conspirators of stalking targets over months, planning to use poison, explosives, and psychological tactics. On May 21, 2024, Feyock and another defendant, Ahmet Korkaya, allegedly plotted intimidation tactics, according to the indictment. Korkaya reportedly stated in texts his intent to target entire families.
Previously a medical student, Korkaya purportedly told Feyock about plans to slowly “poison” individuals on his hit list.
Korkaya appeared in federal court in Wisconsin earlier this week, with a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
The indictment’s most severe charge, witness intimidation, targets Hakim and Feyock. They allegedly threatened someone suspected of informing law enforcement. Conviction could mean up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Other accused individuals include Jonathan Hongru Zou and Alexander Sepulveda, charged with throwing jars containing an unidentified blue substance at University Provost Laurie McCauley’s home and painting threatening messages.
In March 2025, these threats were documented, as shown in photos from the Detroit Free Press. Another attempt to search Sepulveda’s home led to data erasure following a tip-off on an encrypted chat, as stated by the U.S Attorney’s Office.
Sepulveda has a bond hearing on Monday at a federal court in Detroit.
Those accused of conspiracy to transmit threats or destruction of property face potential penalties, including five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.