ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has upheld the 78-month federal prison sentence of Brian Bocage, who described himself as “Michael, the archangel,” after he admitted to a series of arsons targeting monuments, memorials, and a police vehicle outside a synagogue.
According to court documents, Bocage carried out four arsons in Florida and Tennessee and posted videos of the crimes on social media. His targets included the North Lauderdale Veteran’s Memorial, two Tennessee monuments, and a police car outside the Synagogue of Inverrary-Chabad.
Bocage pleaded guilty to arson in the Southern District of Florida after previously receiving a 20-month sentence in a separate Tennessee federal case. He argued that his 78-month sentence was unreasonable, but the Eleventh Circuit rejected the appeal, finding that the district court had properly weighed the seriousness of his crimes, his untreated mental health issues, and the need to protect the public.
The appellate court noted that the higher sentence was justified to deter future offenses and ensure public safety, citing Bocage’s refusal to take responsibility and his statements about committing arson as part of “God’s work.”
