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A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 26 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to making dozens of antisemitic phone calls and voicemails in the aftermath of the October 7th attack in Israel.
Prosecutors said John Reardon, 60, began harassing synagogues and the Israeli Consulate in Boston on October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas massacre, and continued to do so over the next several months.
Threats to Jewish Children and Holocaust References
On January 25, 2024, Reardon left a chilling voicemail with a synagogue in Attleboro. He warned, “You do realize that by supporting genocide that means it’s OK for people to commit genocide against you.” He continued, “By supporting the killing of innocent little children, that means it’s OK to kill your children.”
Later that same day, he left another threatening message for a synagogue in Sharon, Massachusetts. In addition, he called the Israeli Consulate in Boston nearly 100 times. During one call, he declared it was “time to prepare the furnaces again,” an unmistakable reference to the Holocaust. Consequently, prosecutors argued his actions instilled fear across Jewish communities.
Court Rejects Plea for Leniency
Reardon’s lawyer asked for a nine-month sentence, claiming his actions stemmed from mental health struggles. She admitted the crimes were “terrifying, deeply hurtful, and will cause lasting fear in the victims,” but sought leniency. However, U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick rejected the request. Instead, prosecutors stressed the danger of threats that targeted children and invoked genocide.
Antisemitic Threats Rising Nationwide
Authorities charged Reardon in January 2024 as the U.S. Department of Justice warned of a national surge in antisemitic incidents.
Antisemitism has become increasingly normalized since October 7th. As a result, officials underscored that it will be met with serious consequences. This sentencing, they emphasized, sends a clear message of deterrence at a moment when antisemitic hate is surging across the United States and worldwide.
