CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Baris A. Koch, 30, of Dayton, with misprision of a felony and making false statements.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Joseph M. Deters, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and Vance Callander, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the charges returned this week.

 

In July 2019, Baris’ brother Izmir A. Koch was sentenced to 30 months in prison following his conviction for committing a hate crime and lying to federal agents.

 

According to the indictment in this case, 10 days later, Baris Koch obtained a duplicate driver’s license from the Ohio BMV, claiming he had lost his previous license.

 

Izmir Koch was ordered to report to a federal correctional institute on Aug. 16 and he failed to report.

 

On Aug. 21, Baris Koch obtained yet another duplicate driver’s license from the Ohio BMV, claiming again that he had lost his previous driver’s license.

 

FBI and HSI agents later discovered, according to court documents, that on Aug. 9, Izmir Koch crossed into Mexico by foot, posing as his brother. Izmir Koch used Baris Koch’s United States passport to fly from a Mexican airport to Europe, where he eventually made his way to Russia. Baris and Izmir Koch both previously resided in Russia and have held Russian passports. The United States and Russia do not have an extradition treaty.

 

Mail records show that several days later, on Aug. 16, Baris Koch received a package from a “Baris Ali Koch” at a Russian address with an official label describing the contents as “PASSPORT, COPIES OF DOCUMENTS.” The real Baris Koch did not travel outside the United States during this timeframe.

 

When the FBI interviewed Baris Koch on Sept. 11, he allegedly told the agents that he had last seen Izmir Koch on Aug. 9, and that he had no knowledge regarding his brother’s possible whereabouts. It is alleged Baris Koch likewise failed to mention that, days after his brother’s disappearance, he received a package purportedly sent from himself in Russia with passports inside it.

 

The defendant allegedly failed to report knowledge of a felony offense, namely, aggravated identity theft by misuse of a U.S. passport, and concealed that fact from FBI agents.

 

He is charged with one count of misprision of a felony, a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison, and one count of making false statements to federal agents, which carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and HSI, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi, who is prosecuting the case.

 

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged a Huber Heights man for failing to appear with the Bureau of Prisons to begin his 30-month prison sentence for beating a man he believed to be Jewish outside of a Cincinnati restaurant in February 2017.

 

Izmir Koch, 34, was sentenced in July and ordered by the court to self-surrender at a federal correctional institute on August 16.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Cincinnati Division announced the new charge.

 

According to the indictment, Koch had been released while awaiting surrender for service of sentence, and directed by the Court to surrender to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Correctional Institute Gilmer in the Northern District of West Virginia. It is alleged that Koch knowingly and willfully failed to self-surrender.

Koch was convicted after a trial in December 2018 of one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. 

In February 2017, the Defendant and his companions were heard yelling “I want to kill all of the Jews” and “I want to stab the Jews” outside a Cincinnati restaurant. The victim represented to Koch that he was Jewish, after which Koch began punching and kicking him. A number of other people joined in the assault. The victim was left with a broken facial bone and bruised ribs. The victim was not in fact Jewish, but was with friends and family members who were. 

Koch faces an additional prison sentence of up to five years for failing to appear.

Koch’s initial prosecution was investigated by the Cincinnati Division of the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Rossi of the Southern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorney Dana Mulhauser of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. SAUSA Rossi and Trial Attorney Mulhauser are also handling Koch’s new charge.

 

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

If you have any information on Koch’s whereabouts, please contact the FBI at (513) 421-4310.

 

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WASHINGTON – Izmir Koch, 34, of Huber Heights, Ohio, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for beating a man he believed to be Jewish outside of a Cincinnati restaurant. 

Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; Benjamin C. Glassman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence.

Koch was convicted after a trial on Dec. 17, 2018, of one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. 

On Feb. 4, 2017, the Defendant and his companions were heard yelling “I want to kill all of the Jews” and “I want to stab the Jews” outside a Cincinnati restaurant. The victim represented to Koch that he was Jewish, after which Koch began punching and kicking him. A number of other people joined in the assault. The victim was left with a broken facial bone and bruised ribs. The victim was not in fact Jewish, but was with friends and family members who were. 

After the incident, Koch, accompanied by his attorney, spoke voluntarily with the FBI. Koch falsely told the FBI that he was not involved in the assault and that he made no derogatory comments about Jews.

“Individuals should be able to live without fear of attack or intimidation based on their religious beliefs,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Prosecuting hate crimes is a top priority for the Department of Justice and as this sentence today demonstrates, we will not back down from obtaining justice for victims of violence based on hate.”

“Hate-fueled violent crimes ripple through communities, making entire groups feel unsafe and unwelcome, spawning fear and anger,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “That is why investigating and prosecuting hate crimes is such a high priority. Every community – every person – is entitled to the equal protection of the laws.”

“The FBI aggressively investigates hate crime incidents and works closely with impacted communities,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Todd A. Wickerham. “Each day we strive to protect civil rights and hold accountable those who violate the rights of others.”

This case was investigated by the Cincinnati Division of the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Rossi of the Southern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorney Dana Mulhauser of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

For more information about Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.

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CINCINNATI – Izmir Koch, 33, of Huber Heights, Ohio, was convicted in U.S. District Court today for assaulting a man because he believed the man was Jewish in violation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and of lying to the FBI about his role in the religiously motivated assault. 

 

Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Todd Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Cincinnati Division, announced the verdict, which was reached today by U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott after a bench trial that occurred between Nov. 13 to 15.

 

According to court documents and testimony, the assault occurred on Feb. 4, 2017, outside a Cincinnati restaurant, when Koch yelled out asking if anyone outside the restaurant was Jewish. The victim responded that he was Jewish and Koch then ran to the victim and punched him in the head. When the victim fell to the ground, Koch and others continued hitting and kicking him, breaking a bone in his face and bruising his ribs. Approximately a half-dozen of Koch’s friends joined in the assault. Before and during the assault, the defendant and his associates were heard shouting, “I want to kill all of the Jews” and “I want to stab the Jews.” 

 

After the incident occurred, Koch made a voluntary statement to the FBI, accompanied by his attorney. Koch falsely told the FBI he was not involved in the fight, the fight only consisted of two punches, and he had not said anything disparaging about Jews.

 

“This is the first conviction under the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the Southern District of Ohio,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “We will not permit hate-fueled violence to gain a toehold here. Nor will we countenance lying to FBI agents. Today’s convictions reflect our resolve.”

 

In October, the Justice Department launched a new comprehensive hate crimes website designed to provide a centralized portal for the Department’s hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups and other related organizations and individuals.  More information on the website and an update on Justice Department hate crimes prosecutions can be found here.

 

This case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney and Trial Attorney Dana Mulhauser of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

 

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Izmir Koch, 32, of Huber Heights, with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in an indictment unsealed today.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges.

According to the indictment, on February 4, 2017, Koch was outside a Cincinnati restaurant with others when he allegedly yelled out asking if anyone outside the restaurant was Jewish.

A victim responded that he was Jewish and it is alleged that Koch then ran to the victim and punched him in the head. When the victim fell to the ground, Koch and others continued hitting and kicking him.

The victim sustained injuries from the attack, including rib contusions and a fracture of his orbital floor.

Koch was charged with one count of committing a hate crime, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He was arrested this morning and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie K. Bowman at 1:30pm.

“Physically attacking someone because you think he’s Jewish—or Christian or Muslim or any other religion—is a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “This office prosecutes hate crimes.”

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney and Trial Attorney Gabriel Davis of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, who are prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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