Brooklyn Coffee Shop Owner Faces DOJ Civil Rights Probe Amid Tax Arrears and Health Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into Poetica Coffee, a Brooklyn café whose owner publicly targeted Rep. Dan Goldman — a Jewish New York Democratic congressman and vocal supporter of Israel — in a hostile social media post that has since been deleted. The probe broadens a mounting compliance picture for the business: as of June 20, 2026, founder Parviz Mukhamadkulov reportedly owed New York State hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes, while one of the chain's Brooklyn locations has accumulated health code violations in each year since 2023.

Social Media Attack Draws Federal Scrutiny

Poetica Coffee's post, published and then removed from the shop's Instagram account, addressed Goldman directly after he visited the café. The message challenged the congressman over his position on Israel, declared the shop does not serve "racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between," and stated that his payment had been refunded. The shop subsequently deleted its entire Instagram account. The DOJ's civil rights division opened a probe following the incident, which drew wide attention given Goldman's Jewish identity and his outspoken backing of Israel.

Tax and Health Code Failures Compound the Picture

Reporting by the Washington Free Beacon details a pattern of regulatory non-compliance separate from the civil rights case. As of June 20, 2026, Mukhamadkulov and Poetica Coffee owed New York State hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes; Fox News Digital has sought confirmation from the New York Department of Taxation and Finance.

On the public health front, one Brooklyn Poetica location has received violations annually since 2023. Infractions issued in June cited the presence of "filth flies" in food and non-food areas, an inadequate or unapproved sewage disposal system, and insufficient personal cleanliness among staff. A December inspection had separately flagged evidence of rats on the premises, and the business has also been cited for improper storage of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.

Owner's Archived Posts and Political Ties

Mukhamadkulov, an Uzbek immigrant, deleted his X account on Tuesday; a selection of posts was preserved by the Washington Free Beacon. Archived material shows him voicing support for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in October 2025. In July 2025, he posted in celebration of the death of an Israel Defense Forces combat engineer. Separately archived posts show him attributing the September 11 attacks to Israel, describing Israel as a "Nazi nation," and accusing the country of "genocide."

Federal Election Commission records show a $35 donation from Mukhamadkulov to Graham Platner, a Maine Democratic Senate candidate whose campaign has faced its own controversy over a reported Nazi-linked tattoo.

Poetica Coffee did not respond to requests for comment. Goldman's office also did not return a request for comment.