EUGENE, Ore. — An Oregon man has pleaded guilty to three federal hate crimes after targeting a Jewish synagogue with white supremacist graffiti and attempting to cause damage. Adam Edward Braun, 34, admitted Tuesday to defacing Temple Beth Israel in Eugene on multiple occasions, citing his intent to target the place of worship due to its significance to the Jewish community.
Court documents revealed that Braun spray-painted “1377” on the synagogue’s exterior in September 2023, a number he selected for its similarity to the white supremacist code “1488,” referencing Adolf Hitler and neo-Nazi slogans. In January, Braun attempted to shatter the synagogue’s glass doors with a hammer but fled when he noticed surveillance cameras, later returning to spray-paint “WHITE POWER” in large letters on the property.
“Acts of hate targeting places of worship violate our nation’s core values,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This guilty plea sends a clear message that hate-fueled violence will not be tolerated.”
Braun faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each charge, in addition to possible fines and restitution. Special Agent in Charge Douglas Olson of the FBI Portland Field Office commended the investigation, stating, “We remain committed to protecting every community’s right to worship freely and without fear.”
The case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, with the FBI and Eugene Police Department leading the investigation.
