PHOENIX, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Phoenix yesterday returned an indictment against Kevin Charles Pyles, 33, of Glendale, Arizona for the Intentional Defacement of Religious Real Property.The indictment alleges that Pyles defaced Sha’arei Shalom Congregation, a synagogue in Phoenix, on July 11, 2025. On that day, Pyles posted an antisemitic flyer on the synagogue’s front door. Pyles had previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Making and Communicating a Terrorism Threat in Maricopa County Superior Court. Those charges related to online threats Pyles made targeting the Jewish community and Sha’arei Shalom Congregation.
“This indictment is a message to the community – we will not tolerate the defacement or destruction of any house of worship,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Members of the Arizona community should feel free to worship without the fear of harassment.” “Every Arizonan has the right to feel safe in his or her community,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “For this reason, investigating hate crimes is one of the FBI’s highest priorities and this office along with our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our pursuit of offenders.”“Everyone who calls Phoenix home, and everyone who visits our city, deserves to feel welcome and safe.
Acts that target or intimidate any part of our community undermine the values we stand for,” said Phoenix Police Department Chief Matt Giordano. “The Phoenix Police Department takes these crimes seriously, and we remain committed to working with our partners to protect our community.”A conviction for Intentional Defacement of Religious Real Property carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.The FBI’s Phoenix Division and the Phoenix Police Department are handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg and Special Assistant U.S.
Attorney Clay Rehrig for the District of Arizona are handling the prosecution, in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00688-PHX-JJTRELEASE NUMBER: 2026-107_Pyles# # #For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/Follow the U.S.
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