update desk

Former Manhattan law firm partner gets 2 years for antisemitic cyber-stalking

Willie Dennis led a campaign of intimidation against former coworkers, inspiring fear that he would act upon his threats.

Midtown Manhattan. Credit: Rhododendrites/Wikimedia Commons.
Midtown Manhattan. Credit: Rhododendrites/Wikimedia Commons.

For years, a former law partner at K&L Gates in Manhattan sent thousands of threats and harassing messages, often including racist and antisemitic attacks, to lawyers at the firm. Willie Dennis also physically threatened former coworkers’ families.

Dennis has been sentenced to two years in prison on three counts of cyber-stalking. Prosecutors had sought four-and-a-half years, but Dennis’ lawyer, David Cohen, noted in a court filing that his client expressed remorse for his actions.

Beginning in 2018, Dennis began making the threats, and they increased by 2019 after he was fired. One victim moved out of state to get away from him, and another slept with a loaded gun near his bed. Dennis told one victim to “sleep with one eye open” and told others they would become “biblical symbols.”

Dennis, who is black, had sued the law firm in 2020, alleging that he was fired due to his raising concerns about alleged racial and gender biases. K&L Gates denies this claim. The criminal case put that lawsuit on hold.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams described the intimidation as “relentless” and said, “the sentence imposed today ensures that Dennis’s victims will no longer needlessly endure his attacks.”

K&L Gates was the 13th-largest law firm in the country in 2022, with 1,698 employees. Its $1 billion in gross revenue ranked 50th in the world.

You have read 3 articles this month.
Register to receive full access to JNS.

Just before you scroll on...

Israel is at war. JNS is combating the stream of misinformation on Israel with real, honest and factual reporting. In order to deliver this in-depth, unbiased coverage of Israel and the Jewish world, we rely on readers like you. The support you provide allows our journalists to deliver the truth, free from bias and hidden agendas. Can we count on your support? Every contribution, big or small, helps JNS.org remain a trusted source of news you can rely on.

Become a part of our mission by donating today
Topics
Comments
Thank you. You are a loyal JNS Reader.
You have read more than 10 articles this month.
Please register for full access to continue reading and post comments.
Never miss a thing
Get the best stories faster with JNS breaking news updates