Sept. 18 (UPI) — A Texas man who allegedly made written and phone threats to New York mayoral candidate and state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani has been indicted, the Queens District Attorney announced Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspect, Jeremy Fistel, 44, a resident of Plano, Texas, warned Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, to “go back to Uganda” before someone shoots him in the head<\/a>, court records show<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawyers contend Fistel began messaging Mamdani’s office in June and continued to make threats through July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fistel was arraigned Thursday on a 22-count grand jury indictment alleging he made terroristic threats as hate crimes, aggravated harassment and other charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fistel is said to have left an anti-Muslim message June 18 stating that the Uganda-born Muslim was not welcome in New York and warned him to take precautions for him and his family. Fistel called Mamdani a terrorist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On July 8, Fistel allegedly messaged Mamdani through the candidate’s website and expressed hope that Mamdani developed terminal cancer and he said he hoped for Mamdani to experience an imminent and “painful death.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’d love to see an IDF bullet go through your head,” the message read, according to court documents. “Would be even better if you had to watch your wife and kids murdered in front [of] you before they end your pathetic, miserable life … I hope you all die painful sudden deaths. Do us all a favor and kill yourself.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n A series of similar voice messages came in the following weeks expressing the same sentiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fistel is said to have blocked caller ID on his phone, but investigators eventually tracked his calls, according to the complaint. The messages sent via Mamdani’s website were traced to Fistel’s email account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fistel faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted on the most serious charges, the New York District Attorney’s office said. He is due back in Court Nov. 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n