A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty after making multiple bomb threats towards Jewish synagogues and threatening to kill all Jews.
John Reardon, 59, of Millis, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a person and one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce.
On Jan. 25, Reardon called a synagogue in Attleboro and left a voicemail that included threats of violence.
Within 10 minutes of leaving the voicemail at the Congregation Agudas Achim, Reardon called another local Synagogue in Sharon and left another voicemail that included threats of violence.
Reardon was then arrested.
Afterwards, investigators learned that Reardon had called the Israeli Consulate in Boston 98 times between Oct. 7, 2023 and Jan. 29, 2024. In many of those calls, Reardon made harassing and intimidating statements, officials said.
“If you can bomb their f**king places of worship we can bomb yours, if you can kill their children we can kill yours,” Reardon said in one of the voicemails.
“With supporting the killing of innocent little children, that means it’s OK to kill your children,” he also said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Reardon also used the phrase “from the river to the sea,” — a controversial mantra seen by some as antisemitic and viewed by others as a statement of Palestinian liberation.
“This defendant’s threats to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish children stoked fear in the hearts of congregants at a time when Jews are already facing a disturbing increase in threats,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “No person and no community in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence. The Justice Department is committed to using the full force of our investigative and prosecutorial authorities to root out these threats and ensure that all people are protected in the expression of their faith.”
The charge of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a person provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Reardon is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 14, 2025.
