A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to sending threatening letters and postcards to Jewish organizations across several states, according to the Department of Justice. Clift Seferlis, 55, from Garrett Park, Maryland, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Mark A. Kearney on 17 counts of mailing threatening communications and eight counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs.
Seferlis was charged last month after being arrested in June following a criminal complaint and warrant related to these threats. Court documents state that between March 2024 and June 2025, Seferlis used the United States mail system to send at least 40 letters and two postcards containing threats to more than 25 Jewish organizations in multiple jurisdictions. The recipients included synagogues, museums, community centers, schools, non-profit organizations, and a delicatessen.
The Department of Justice detailed that many messages threatened either destruction of property or harm to individuals at these institutions. Specific incidents cited in court filings include:
- Jewish Institution 1, a synagogue in Washington D.C., received threats on March 6, 2024 and January 24, 2025.
- Jewish Institution 2 in Philadelphia received multiple threats throughout April 2024 through May 2025.
- Other affected locations included entities and synagogues in Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington D.C., with all communications containing threats against occupants.
Court records also show that Seferlis attempted by threat of force to prevent congregants from practicing their religion at various synagogues across several states. Some offenses involved threats involving dangerous weapons or explosives.
Seferlis waived venue for institutions outside the Eastern District of Pennsylvania so he could be charged there for all offenses.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 16. Seferlis faces up to 169 years in prison as well as supervised release and fines totaling $5.65 million.
The investigation was led by FBI Philadelphia with support from FBI Baltimore; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Montgomery County Police Department; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s Greenbelt office; Anti-Defamation League; Secure Community Network; and Delaware Valley Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S Attorney Mark Dubnoff (Eastern District of Pennsylvania) and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne (Justice Department Civil Rights Division) are prosecuting the case.
