A former Cornell University student received a 21-month federal prison sentence Monday for posting several threats to kill or injure another person in the weeks after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.
Patrick Dai, 22, of Pittsford, Monroe County, posted violent and antisemitic remarks toward Jewish students at Cornell University online, adding to unrest felt on campus at the time, and resulting in college security installing cameras where Jewish students stayed.
Dai pleaded guilty in April to threatening to kill or injure another using interstate communications on Oct. 28 and 29, 2023.
After a tumultuous 10 months, Dai learned his fate. In addition to the prison sentence, Dai will received a three years of post-incarceration supervised release. During that period, he must participate in a mental health program approved by the probation office; contribute to the cost of any monitoring services; and submit any of his belongings to be searched at any time by law enforcement. He may not use any electronic devices, unless he’s in the Internet Control Message Protocol, and communication with anyone at Cornell is allowed only if has permission from probation.
The 21-month sentence marks a reduction from the 27 to 33-month federal guideline that was increased because Judge Brenda Sannes determined Dai committed a hate crime that substantially disrupted campus activity.
“Before imposing sentence, the court found that this was a hate crime under the federal Sentencing Guidelines because Dai targeted Jewish students and substantially disrupted the university’s core function of educating its students," U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman said.
Dai’s sentenced was lowered to 21 months after he was diagnosed with autism in January. His mental health and non-violent history was also considered.
The former Cornell student learned his fate in front of around 40 people including his family and friends. When asked to speak he was too overcome with emotion to say more than a few sentences.
With his voice trembling he told the judge, it was all his fault, and there was no excuse.
“There were times where he would say, 'I want to go to prison. I should go to prison. I don't deserve leniency.' And that's some of the things that he would repeatedly say to me, or try to back me down from advocating for him, because he didn't feel like he was deserving of it,” Dai's attorney, Lisa Peebles, said.
Peebles is objecting to the ruling designating Dai’s actions as a hate crime, and plans on filing a notice of appeal.
The FBI Albany’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the New York State Police, investigated the case, with help from the Cornell University Police Department and the Ithaca Police Department.