Florida Man Arrested for Plotting Attack on Pro-Israel Lobbying Group in Plantation

Last month, the FBI arrested a 26-year-old Gainesville man for allegedly planning to attack a pro-Israel lobbying organization in South Florida as the Jewish community celebrated Hanukkah.

Forrest Pemberton was charged with stalking after he traveled from Gainesville to Plantation to allegedly scout an office belonging to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in preparation for the attack. Unbeknownst to Pemberton, AIPAC no longer worked out of the office building off Pine Island Road in Plantation.

On December 23, the FBI agents say Pemberton's father reported him missing after family members discovered the 26-year-old left home in the middle of the night, leaving a letter in which he "espoused anti-authority sentiments," like wanting to "close the loop," and "stoke the flames." The family noticed an AR-15 rifle, a 9mm Luger pistol, and a Galil rifle were missing from the home.

The court documents state that his family members found that Pemberton had searched for the Plantation address belonging to an unnamed organization that "advocates and lobbies 'for pro-Israel policies that strengthen and expand the U.S.-Israel relationship.'" (While the organization was not named, AIPAC's website matches that description.) He also reportedly visited AIPAC's website, the federal complaint states. The family provided screenshots showing that Pemberton withdrew money from two different ATMs within one mile of the office around December 23.

Agents say their investigation revealed that Pemberton checked into a hotel about two miles from the office on December 22 and headed to Tallahassee the next day.

As agents surveilled him on December 25 in Tallahassee, they saw Pemberton get into a rideshare with a soft rifle case. According to the complaint, law enforcement pulled the vehicle over, and Pemberton turned over three firearms along with ammunition.

During his interview the following day, the FBI says, Pemberton admitted he visited AIPAC's office — not realizing the group no longer operated there — under the guise of "volunteership" to scout the location before returning with concealed firearms.

"When asked if Pemberton would commit a mass-casualty event and then take his own life, [he] stated, "Um, I really don't know if I was gonna end it with my life or not," the complaint reads. "I hadn't gotten that far yet. It entirely depended if I ended up getting caught or not. If caught, that was a way out."

He allegedly added that he chose AIPAC because of its "political influence" and relative location, stating that he was frustrated with the "status quo" and wanted to see if he could make a change.

But, according to the FBI, he decided against following through with the plot.

"It would have been a one-way ticket," the complaint continues. "In Plantation, I decided I wasn't ready I gave up."