Two Pittsburgh Area Residents Indicted for Vandalizing Jewish Building

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two residents of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy and defacing and damaging a religious building, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The two-count Indictment named Mohamad Hamad, 23, of Coraopolis, and Talya A. Lubit, 24, of Pittsburgh, as co-conspirators. The two defendants were previously charged and arrested on a criminal complaint (read the complaint news release here).

According to the Indictment, from in and around July 2024 through on or about July 29, 2024, Hamad and Lubit conspired with each other to commit an offense against the United States-specifically, a civil rights violation involving damage to religious real property. Hamad and Lubit are further charged with defacing the religious real property of Chabad of Squirrel Hill (Chabad), which occupies a synagogue building, because of the racial and ethnic characteristics of the Jewish individuals associated with Chabad, in violation of federal law.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Hamad and Lubit were both released on $50,000 unsecured bonds and are required, among other conditions, to remain under home detention, to abide by computer monitoring, to refrain from use of encrypted messaging applications, and to not possess, view, access, or otherwise use material that reflects extremist or terroristic views without the permission of the assigned probation officer. Extremist or terroristic material includes but is not limited to websites, videos, magazines, articles, books, writings, photographs, pictures, and graphics produced by or in support of any Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), as designated under 8 U.S.C. § 1189, including Hamas.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.