Texas man charged with making 'terrorist threats' to NYC mayoral candidate
Texas man charged with terroristic threats against Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani
FOX 5 NY?s Stephanie Bertini reports live from Queens after prosecutors charged 44-year-old Jeremy Fiscal with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime. Authorities say the Texas man sent racist messages and threatened violence against Assemblyman Mamdani, the current frontrunner in New York City?s mayoral race.
QUEENS - A man from Texas has been charged with making terroristic threats against New York City mayoral candidate and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
What we know:
Officials say Jeremy Fistel, 44, left four separate voicemails and written messages threatening Mamdani.
District Attorney Melinda Katz said the threats began in June and continued through July.
FOX 5 NY's Stephanie Bertini caught up with Fistel as he was leaving court.
When Bertini attempted to ask if he had anything to say about the charges, he remained silent and pushed through reporters, at one point nudging Bertini on the wrist.
His lawyer then told the press to "let him walk," adding that he believes the DA is "seriously overcharging this case" and that Fistel is entitled to his opinions and free speech.
The lawyer also questioned the charges, asking, "Is every crime against every person and every religion a hate crime?"
Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayoral candidate, arrives to meet members of the Teamsters Local 210 during a strike outside of the Perrigo manufacturing facility in the Bronx borough of New York, US, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. New York Governor Kathy
"As alleged, the defendant threatened an elected official by leaving a series of increasingly alarming anti-Muslim messages with the office of Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. The defendant told the assemblyman to go back to Uganda before someone shoots him in the head, to keep an eye on his house and family, to watch his back every second until he leaves America, and that he and his relatives deserve to die," Katz explained.
Message reads: ‘Go back to f-- Uganda’
Dig deeper:
In one message from June 11, Fistel allegedly left a voicemail saying, in part, "Hey Zohran, you should go back to f--ing Uganda before someone shoots you in the f--ing ghead and gets rid of your whole fcking family, too. You piece of s-- Muslims don’t belong here."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 6: New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani waves as he marches during the 2025 NYC Labor Day Parade on September 6, 2025 in New York City. Hundreds of workers from various unions marched in this year's parade. (Photo
In another message from June 18, Fistel allegedly said Mamdani was not welcome in New York or in America and told him to "Go on and start your car. See what happens…yeah, keep an eye on your house and your family. Watch your f--k back every f--k second til you get the f--k out of America." The message also said, "And check your beeper, too, terrorist f--k. Beep beep."
Who is Jermey Fistel?
The 44-year-old from Plano, Texas, was arraigned 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.
If convicted of the top charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Fistel is expected bak to court on Nov. 19.
Mamdani responds
Zohran thanked the DA’s office for taking the threats seriously, saying they reflect "a broader climate of hate that has no place in our city."
He reassured the community that both his office and campaign are safe, adding "We cannot and will not be intimidated by racism, Islamophobia, and hate.
The Source: This report is based on an indictment from Queens District Attornet Melinda Katz.