Welcome to Arrest Stories. A forty-four-year-old Texas man faces terroristic threat charges as a hate crime after allegedly targeting New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani with a series of anti-Muslim death threats over several months. Here's what may have happened.
Between June and July, Jeremy Fistel allegedly launched a campaign of terror against Assemblyman Mamdani, leaving at least four threatening voicemails at the Queens office and submitting written messages through the assembly member's website. The threats were deeply disturbing and escalated over time.
On June eleventh at eleven twenty-seven in the morning, Fistel allegedly left his first threatening voicemail, warning Mamdani to go back to Uganda before someone shoots him in the head. The messages became increasingly violent, with Fistel allegedly telling the assemblyman to keep an eye on his house and family and watch his back every second until he leaves America.
One particularly chilling message referenced Mamdani's car, with Fistel allegedly saying "Go on and start your car. See what happens." Ironically, prosecutors note that Mamdani doesn't even own a vehicle. Fistel blocked his caller identification during the calls, but authorities traced the messages back to his cell phone.
When confronted by law enforcement, Fistel claimed he had no intention of coming to New York City and just wanted to express his political beliefs. However, the threats were serious enough to prompt increased security for Mamdani.
Prosecutors detailed the severity of the allegations, stating that the defendant told the assemblyman that he and his relatives deserve to die. Officials emphasized that there is no room for hate or bigotry in political discourse and that threats against office holders are taken extremely seriously.
Fistel was extradited to Queens where he pleaded not guilty to a twenty-two-count indictment on September eleventh. He was released on thirty thousand dollars bail and ordered to return to court on November nineteenth. A judge issued an order of protection prohibiting any contact with the victim.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.