QUEENS, N.Y. – A Texas man has been indicted on charges of making terroristic threats as a hate crime after a series of threatening, anti-Muslim messages were sent to New York State Assemblyman and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, prosecutors announced.
Jeremy Fistel, 44, of Plano, Texas, was arraigned Thursday on a 22-count indictment charging him with four counts of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, four counts of making a terroristic threat, seven counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree as a hate crime and seven counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Fistel began leaving violent and threatening messages for Mamdani’s office in June, escalating through July. According to prosecutors, the messages included threats to shoot the assemblyman, harm his family and references to his Ugandan and Muslim background. On July 8, Fistel allegedly submitted a written message through Mamdani’s website calling for his death and expressing hopes that his wife and children would be murdered.
Fistel was arrested in Texas on September 11 and extradited to Queens on September 17. He was arraigned the following day before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michelle A. Johnson, who ordered him to return to court on November 19. If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on June 11, at approximately 11:27 a.m., Fistel allegedly left a message on Mamdani’s office voicemail saying, in part, “Hey Zohran, you should go back to fcking Uganda before someone shoots you in the fcking head and gets rid of your whole fcking family, too. You piece of sht Muslims don’t belong here.” On June 18, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Fistel allegedly left a message saying that Mamdani was not welcome in New York, or in America and to “Go on and start your car. See what happens…yeah, keep an eye on your house and your family. Watch your fcking back every fcking second til you get the fck out of America.” The message also said, “And check your beeper, too, terrorist fck. Beep beep.” On July 8, Fistel allegedly submitted a written message through the assembly member’s website, saying “I hope you get terminal cancer and die a painful death very soon. I’d love to see an IDF bullet go through your skull. Would be even better if you had to watch your wife and kids murdered in front you before they end your pathetic miserable life…I hope you all die painful sudden deaths. Do us all a favor and kill yourself.” On July 23, at approximately 1:47 p.m., Fistel allegedly left a voicemail message saying Mamdani and his family deserved to die and that “Fcking terrorist piece of sht. All you and your Muslim fck loser friends and relatives and family and wife and kids deserve to die. You deserve to be six feet under the fcking ground. I hope somebody does it quickly, somebody shoots you in the f*cking face…I hope you get raped and murdered as well.”
The investigation tied the threatening voicemails to Fistel’s cellphone and the written message to his email account. Authorities said he had attempted to block his caller identification during the calls.
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The case was investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service.
Key Points
- Jeremy Fistel of Plano, Texas indicted for threats against Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
- Messages included violent anti-Muslim statements and death threats toward Mamdani and his family.
- Defendant faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted; next court date is November 19.
Threats from Texas reached Queens, but prosecutors say justice will follow them back.