SouthernWorldwide.com – A Brooklyn coffee shop that recently gained notoriety for its public criticism of Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., is now reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department. The probe is reportedly related to alleged tax and health code violations at the establishment, Poetica Coffee.
The coffee shop owner, Parviz Mukhamadkulov, has also been identified as a donor to the campaign of Graham Platner, a candidate for the Maine Senate. Federal Election Commission records indicate that Mukhamadkulov contributed $35 to Platner’s campaign. Platner’s campaign has itself faced scrutiny due to various scandals, including the discovery of a tattoo linked to Nazism on his chest.
Poetica Coffee’s owner, Mukhamadkulov, is an Uzbek immigrant. The coffee shop came under fire after making a hostile social media post targeting Rep. Goldman, a Jewish congressman and vocal supporter of Israel. The shop publicly stated that Goldman was unwelcome due to his stance on Israel.
In the now-deleted social media post, Poetica Coffee directly addressed Rep. Goldman, questioning his understanding of “genocide juice” and stating that the shop does not serve individuals they deem “racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between.” The post also mentioned issuing a refund to Goldman, suggesting the money likely came from AIPAC, and wished him a loss in his upcoming election.
Following widespread backlash, Poetica Coffee proceeded to delete its entire Instagram account. The shop’s aggressive stance against the congressman prompted the Department of Justice to initiate a civil rights probe into the matter. This investigation highlights the serious nature of the allegations and the potential implications for the business.
Beyond the controversy surrounding the post directed at Rep. Goldman and the subsequent DOJ investigation, Poetica Coffee has a documented history of issues unrelated to this incident. These ongoing problems raise further questions about the establishment’s operational standards.
One of Poetica Coffee’s Brooklyn locations has reportedly faced health code violations annually since 2023. The most recent violations, issued in June, specifically cited the presence of “filth flies” within the restaurant premises. These types of violations can significantly impact public health and safety.
The health department’s description of the violations detailed “filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas.” This included various types of flies, such as house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies, indicating a widespread issue with pest control.
The same June report also noted that the restaurant’s sewage disposal system was described as “not provided, improper, inadequate or unapproved.” Additionally, the report highlighted “inadequate” personal cleanliness among the staff. These are critical areas for any food service establishment.
These issues were not isolated to the most recent inspection. Similar violations were reported in December of the previous year. During that inspection, there was also “evidence of rats or live rats in establishment’s food or non-food areas,” a particularly concerning finding for a place that serves food.
Poetica Coffee has also been cited in the past for improper storage of pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Such violations suggest potential risks to both employees and customers, as well as the environment.
Parviz Mukhamadkulov, the owner of Poetica Coffee, has reportedly shared far-left sentiments on his X account, though this account was deleted on Tuesday. Some of these posts were archived by the Washington Free Beacon.
In archived posts, Mukhamadkulov expressed support for socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In one post from October 2025, in response to conservative actor James Woods, Mukhamadkulov stated his support for Mamdani’s mayoral aspirations, using aggressive and derogatory language towards those who might oppose him.
Further, in July 2025, Mukhamadkulov celebrated the death of an Israel Defense Forces combat engineer with the phrase, “One less baby killer.” This comment reflects a deeply anti-Israel stance.
Mukhamadkulov has also made other controversial statements, including blaming Israel for the 9/11 attacks. He has referred to Israel as a “Nazi nation” and accused the country of committing “genocide.” These statements indicate a strong and vocal opposition to Israel.
