A 60-year-old Massachusetts man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for a barrage of violent threats against Jewish institutions and the Israeli Consulate in Boston, in a chilling campaign of antisemitic harassment.
John Reardon, 60, of Massachusetts, will serve 26 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a months-long spree of threats and harassment targeting the Jewish community. He was also ordered to pay $1,260 in restitution to victims.
Campaign of Intimidation
Reardon admitted to:
- Obstructing the free exercise of religion by threat of force in connection with a synagogue in Attleboro
- Transmitting threats across state lines to a synagogue in Sharon
- Stalking via interstate communication involving the Israeli Consulate in Boston
According to prosecutors, his crimes escalated between October 7, 2023, and January 29, 2024, in the wake of the Hamas-Israel war.
98 Harassing Calls to Israeli Consulate
Authorities say Reardon made 98 separate phone calls to the Israeli Consulate in Boston, issuing antisemitic threats and violent statements, including pledges to kill Jewish individuals and bomb synagogues.
The repeated threats targeted:
- Two Massachusetts synagogues — one in Attleboro, one in Sharon
- The Israeli Consulate, which endured months of threatening communications
Swift Arrest and Conviction
Reardon was taken into custody in January 2024, ending what prosecutors described as a calculated campaign of terror against Jewish institutions. In November, he entered a guilty plea to all three federal charges.
Law enforcement officials say the case highlights the rise in antisemitic threats in the US since October 7 and the necessity of strict legal consequences for those targeting religious communities.
