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John Reardon, of Millis, is charged with one count of using a facility of interstate commerce to threaten a person or place with harm via an explosive, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said on Monday. Reardon was arrested last week.
Investigators say Reardon called Congregation Agudas Achim, a synagogue in Attleboro, Thursday morning, Jan. 25, and left a voicemail threatening horrific violence over the Israel-Hamas war.
In his message, Reardon is accused of saying:
- “You do realize that by supporting genocide that means it’s ok for people to commit genocide against you;”
- “With supporting the killing of innocent little children, that means it’s OK to kill your children;”
- “From the river to the sea;”
- “People are going to use your logic against you, you stupid f**ks;”
- “Guess what? We are going to use your logic —if you can kill the Palestinians, we can kill you;”
- “If you can bomb their f**king places of worship we can bomb yours, if you can kill their children we can kill yours;”
- “You people need to stop the f**king genocide;”
- “End the genocide, or it is time to end Israel and all the Jews;”
- “I supported Jewish people though. Not anymore. A matter of fact I think we should kill you(s) all;” and
- “Have a lousy day and oh don't be surprised if there's pig blood on your steps tomorrow.”
Reardon hung up and then called another synagogue and a local Jewish-affiliated organization making similar threats within 10 minutes, the federal prosecutor said.
“The allegations here about the series of threats Mr. Reardon made against the Jewish community are deeply disturbing and reflect the increasing torrent of antisemitism across our country and right here in Massachusetts," said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. "The numbers do not lie — incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia are spiking. We will continue to work every day with our federal, state, and local partners to track down people who allegedly engage in such hateful conduct."
Reardon faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted on the charge of using a facility of interstate commerce to threaten a person or place with harm via an explosive, per sentencing guidelines.
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