Massachusetts man sentenced after 98 death threat calls to Israeli consulate

Perhaps his most chilling message came during one of those 98 calls, when he said it was “time to prepare the furnaces again” in reference to the crematorium at Auschwitz.

By Jewish Breaking News

John Reardon will spend the next two years behind bars after being sentenced Thursday for a months-long campaign of antisemitic threats that terrorized synagogues and promised to “kill Jewish children” in the aftermath of October 7th.

The 60-year-old Millis man began his hate-fueled rampage the very day Hamas attacked Israel, placing dozens of violent calls and voicemails to Jewish institutions across Massachusetts.

His targets included synagogues in Attleboro and Sharon where he chillingly declared that “supporting the killing of innocent little children” meant “it’s OK to kill your children,” plus the Israeli consulate in Boston—which he called an staggering 98 times over several months.

In his relentless calls to the Israeli consulate, he spewed expletive-laden rants calling Israelis “maggots,” “scum,” and “below animals.”

Perhaps his most chilling message came during one of those 98 calls, when he said it was “time to prepare the furnaces again” in reference to the crematorium at Auschwitz.

“Our office will aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to terrorize our religious communities. All Americans have the right to worship freely and without fear – it is a founding principle of our nation. Jewish people, in particular, have been targeted and persecuted for centuries, and in recent years we have seen a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic threats and violence,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.

“Let me be clear: we will not tolerate such conduct – not against the Jewish community, nor against any faith community. Such vile, hate-driven acts will be met with serious and swift consequences, and we will use every tool we have to hold offenders accountable.”

Even after pleading guilty in November 2024, Reardon couldn’t stop himself.

Released on conditions despite prosecutors’ objections, he violated his pre-sentence release by threatening a storage facility employee in February 2025, promising to “f**k him up” and blow up the building. Those state charges remain pending.

Thankfully no physical attacks occurred, but Reardon’s defense attorney acknowledged the “terrifying, deeply hurtful” impact that “will cause lasting fear in the victims.”

Citing mental health issues, she had pushed for just nine months for her client. Nevertheless, U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick imposed the 26-month sentence and also ordered Reardon to pay $1,260 in restitution to his victims.