February 26, 2025
ST. JEROME, Que. – After B’nai Brith Canada voiced the concerns of Canada’s Jewish community to the Court, a Quebec judge has sentenced a neo-Nazi to five years in prison.
The RCMP arrested Pascal Tribout, 38, of Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, in June 2024, after he made online threats against Canada’s Jewish community. During the investigation, the police found that he had also been using a 3D printer to illegally produce firearms.
“This verdict is a welcome sign for all Canadians,” said Henry Topas, B’nai Brith Canada’s Regional Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, who represented the Jewish community at Wednesday’s sentencing. “This case shows that antisemitism is not only a threat to Jews but also can be a matter of national security.”
Tribout pleaded guilty in December to charges relating to the illegal manufacture of firearms and antisemitic hate speech. During the trial, B’nai Brith Canada delivered a statement highlighting the impact of Tribout’s actions on the Jewish community, although he failed to demonstrate remorse or issue an apology.
“These charges are serious,” declared Judge Sylvain Lépine as he handed down the decision. “[Tribout’s] comments [about Jews] are unacceptable… the manufacture of these weapons is worrisome.”
Tribout’s case is precedent-setting, marking the first time Crown prosecutors have brought someone to justice under a statute relating to the spread of computer data used to manufacture 3D-printed weapons. These so-called “Ghost Guns” are a significant concern because they do not have serial numbers and thus cannot easily be traced.
