Massachusetts Man Guilty of Antisemitic Threats

John Reardon, a 59-year-old from Millis, Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to kill Jews and bomb synagogues, amidst a surge in antisemitic incidents following the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. His charges include obstruction of the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, transmitting threats via interstate commerce, and stalking. On January 25, 2024, Reardon left voicemails with threats of violence at Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro and another synagogue in Sharon. The investigation revealed that Reardon also made 98 harassing calls to the Israeli Consulate in Boston between October 2023 and January 2024. Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the fear these threats instilled during an already troubling rise in antisemitism. Reardon is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in prison.