PHILADELPHIA, PA — In a case that has caught the attention of federal authorities, Yaniv Gola, a 50-year-old Philadelphia resident, has been charged with eight counts of interstate communication of threats. The announcement was made Monday by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero.
The charges allege that between August 2, 2022, and November 5, 2023, Gola used a Voice over Internet Protocol service to disguise his phone number while making threatening telephone calls. He is accused of threatening to injure, rape, and kill eight different victims during these calls.
In one instance, Gola allegedly targeted a victim with anti-Semitic threats, including a threat to kill. In another call, he reportedly threatened a victim with violence, using Islamophobic language. Most recently, Gola is said to have threatened a victim using rhetoric associated with extremist groups.
If convicted, Gola could face a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $2,000,000 fine, and an $800 special assessment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out the investigation into Gola’s alleged actions, assisted by the Philadelphia Police Department, Media Borough Police Department, Cinnaminson Township (NJ) Police Department, Newtown Township Police Department, and Haddonfield (NJ) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang.
As the legal process unfolds, it is important to remember that an indictment, information, or criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Every defendant, including Gola, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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