Riverview woman pleads guilty to threatening Palestinian Americans

Editor’s note: This article contains threatening messages that some readers may find offensive.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A Riverview woman has pleaded guilty to sending messages that said, among other threats, “Palestinians in Tampa must die,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Andrea Rubiano, 49, pleaded guilty to communicating a threat in interstate commerce and making a false statement to a federal agent, according to the Justice Department. She faces up to 10 years in prison.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Rubiano sent threats to 12 Palestinian families in Florida in October 2023, according to the Justice Department. Messages filled with profanity included things like “They are trash and should die first,” “In the mosque we are going to behead them and drag them out alive like rats, ******* Palestinians with their wives and children.” .

The woman also reportedly sent the victim an Israeli flag, two images of an apparent public display, 12 Palestinian flag emojis, 23 skull and crossbones emojis, 10 Star of David emojis, seven illuminated cannonball emojis and five rat emojis, according to reports MJ.

Rubiano admitted to lying to the special agent during her first interview, officials said.

As part of the plea agreement, Rubiano admitted that she “intentionally targeted Palestinian Americans and/or Arabs as targets of her threats based on their actual or perceived race, religion, national origin or ethnicity,” officials said.

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