Hate THREATS Bring Prison TERM!

A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for threatening Jewish synagogues and the Israeli Consulate, highlighting the link between global conflicts and rising domestic hate crimes.

At a Glance

• John Reardon sentenced to 26 months in federal prison for hate-based threats
• Made 98 harassing calls to Israeli Consulate between October 2023 and January 2024
• Targeted synagogues in Attleboro and Sharon, Massachusetts with bomb and death threats
• Case prosecuted under federal statutes protecting religious freedom
• Judge also ordered three years supervised release and restitution to victims

Federal Action Against Religious Threats

On August 14, 2025, U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick sentenced John Reardon, 60, of Millis, Massachusetts, to 26 months in prison for making violent threats against Jewish institutions. In addition to prison time, Reardon will serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to affected victims. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the prosecution underscores the federal government’s commitment to defending constitutional protections for religious worship.

Reardon’s actions spanned from October 7, 2023—coinciding with the start of the Israel-Hamas war—through January 29, 2024. During this period, he made 98 harassing phone calls to the Israeli Consulate in Boston and issued bomb threats to synagogues in Attleboro and Sharon. The threats included explicit promises to kill Jewish people, including children, forcing heightened security measures across affected communities.

Watch now: FBI arrests man who allegedly threatened to bomb synagogue in Massachusetts · YouTube

Constitutional Rights Under Direct Attack

Synagogues targeted in these threats serve not only as religious centers but also as hubs of cultural and community life for Massachusetts’ Jewish population. Such threats are more than isolated crimes—they represent an assault on the First Amendment’s guarantee of free exercise of religion. Federal hate crime statutes are designed to address these acts of intimidation that undermine the safety and liberty of minority communities.

Law enforcement agencies have reported a marked increase in threats to Jewish institutions nationwide since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. This prompted heightened security protocols, from surveillance systems to police coordination, across houses of worship. Prosecutors emphasized that swift and decisive federal action, as in this case, is critical to deterring future offenders.

Global Conflict, Local Consequences

Reardon’s case reflects a recurring pattern in which international conflicts fuel domestic acts of hate against minority groups in the United States. His campaign of threats began immediately after the October 7, 2023, outbreak of violence in the Middle East, demonstrating how overseas events can trigger targeted harassment of communities far removed from the conflict itself.

This phenomenon is not new; Jewish communities in America have historically faced spikes in antisemitic incidents during periods of Middle East instability. Analysts warn that such reactions are rooted in prejudice that irrationally assigns collective blame to entire communities for geopolitical events. The result is a tangible threat to safety, religious freedom, and community cohesion.

In Massachusetts, faith communities have responded to these developments by bolstering security, conducting active threat training, and coordinating closely with law enforcement agencies. While these measures help mitigate immediate danger, they also impose financial and emotional costs on congregations whose primary mission is worship and service—not defense.

Sources

Reuters

Associated Press

Department of Justice