A Florida man accused of traveling across the state with an AR-15-style rifle and a silencer to target Jewish workers at a pro-Israel organization now faces federal hate-crime and firearm charges.
Federal prosecutors say Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, of Gainesville, went to South Florida in December 2024 intending to carry out a mass shooting at an office tied to a nonprofit that supports the U.S.-Israel relationship. Authorities said the alleged target was Jewish employees.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on June 18 that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Pemberton on charges including attempted hate crime, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a short-barreled rifle.
Pemberton has not been convicted. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Family Members Reported Him Missing Before the Arrest
The case began when Pemberton’s family members contacted authorities and reported him missing, according to local reporting based on arrest records.
Family members reportedly found a letter and online searches that raised concern about where he may have been headed. Investigators later said those searches appeared connected to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, commonly known as AIPAC.
Authorities say that the early report helped bring the case to the attention of law enforcement before any shooting occurred.
The case has since moved from a missing-person concern to a federal criminal prosecution involving allegations of antisemitic targeting and an attempted mass shooting. That shift shows how the early report led to the federal case.
Prosecutors Say Jewish Employees Were the Alleged Targets
According to the Justice Department, Pemberton is accused of attempting to target Jewish victims because of their race and religion. Court records described the organization involved as a nonprofit dedicated to lobbying the U.S. government in support of Israel. Local reports identified the organization as AIPAC.
AIPAC describes itself as a bipartisan American organization that works to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Federal prosecutors are not accusing Pemberton of a crime because of political speech or personal beliefs. Instead, they say he took steps toward violence against people because they were Jewish.
That allegation is what led to the federal hate-crime charge.
Authorities Say the Office Was Empty
One of the central facts in the case is that the office Pemberton allegedly traveled to was empty when he arrived. According to earlier reporting based on court records, investigators said Pemberton went to what he believed was the organization’s office. No employees were inside at the time.
Authorities have not said that anyone was physically injured. The empty-office detail is important because prosecutors say Pemberton had armed himself and traveled with the intent to carry out violence. That detail matters because the alleged plan did not meet its intended target, according to the allegations.
The court will now have to determine what prosecutors can prove about his intent, his movements, the weapons involved, and the alleged target.
The Indictment Includes Serious Firearm Allegations
The federal indictment says Pemberton was armed with an AR-15-style rifle equipped with a silencer when he traveled to the office. Prosecutors charged him with three counts: attempted hate crime, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a short-barreled rifle. The possible penalties are severe.
If convicted of the attempted hate-crime charge, Pemberton could face up to life in prison. The firearm charge carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of up to 30 years. The short-barreled rifle charge carries up to five years.
A federal judge would decide on sentencing if Pemberton is convicted.
The Case Involves Several Florida Cities
The case has connections to multiple Florida communities.
Pemberton is from Gainesville. Authorities say he traveled to Plantation, where the alleged target was located, and local reporting said he was later arrested in Tallahassee.
Several agencies are involved in the investigation, including the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Miami Field Office, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Tallahassee Police Department.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida are handling the case.
The movement across several cities has heightened public safety concerns surrounding the allegations. Those concerns reflect the case’s reach across Florida communities.
The Case Comes Amid Ongoing Concern Over Hate Crimes
The Justice Department has continued to track hate crimes across the United States, including crimes motivated by religion, race, and ethnicity.
Federal data released for 2024 showed more than 11,000 reported hate-crime incidents nationwide. Religion-based hate crimes remained a significant part of the total.
Jewish organizations and law enforcement agencies have also reported continued concern about antisemitic threats and incidents in recent years.
Those broader numbers do not prove anything about Pemberton’s guilt. Instead, they show why federal authorities continue to prioritize cases involving alleged threats against religious communities.
What Happens Next in Federal Court
The indictment marks a major step in the federal case, but it is not a conviction.
Prosecutors will have to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Pemberton’s defense will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence, question the government’s claims, and present its own arguments in court.
The next phase could include pretrial hearings, motions in evidence, possible plea discussions, and, eventually, a trial if the case does not resolve earlier.
For now, the core facts remain serious: a Gainesville man is accused of arming himself, traveling to South Florida, and attempting to target Jewish employees at a pro-Israel organization. The empty office is central to those allegations.
The case is now in federal court, where prosecutors will seek to prove that the alleged conduct amounted to an attempted hate crime attack.
