Patrick Dai, 21, of Pittsford, Monroe County, New York, United States graduated from Pittsford-Mendon High School in Pittsford. In August 2020, he entered Cornell University in Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an invasion, breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier. From October 28-29, 2023, Dai wrote on Cornell University’s section of the online discussion site Greekrank threatening messages against Jewish people.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents traced two internet protocol addresses Dai used while posting in Greekrank. One was in Pittsford and one was at Cornell University.
On October 31, 2023, Dai was arrested at his apartment in Ithaca. U.S. Marshals booked him into the Broome County Jail in Binghamton, Broome County, New York.
On November 1, 2023, Dai made his initial appearance in federal court in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York with his defense attorney Gabrielle DiBella. His mother was present in the courtroom but she refused to be interviewed.
Dai did not enter a plea. He was ordered held without bail and transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
DiBella waived Dai waived his right to a timely detention hearing. On November 15, 2023, he will be back in court.
CONAN Daily 