Latest news with #Nyawo
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. man indicted for making online threats to kill U.S. officials, children at elementary school
A Wilbraham man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making numerous violent threats on social media to kill elected U.S. officials and their families, police officers and firefighters, and children at an elementary school in Massachusetts, the U.S. Attorney said. Funwayo Mbilini Nyawo, also known as 'Jonathan Funwayo Nyawo,' 'Michael Jacobs' 'Robert, Jacobs,' and 'Carl Fields,' 36, was indicted with 13 counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications and one count of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement on Tuesday. Nyawo was previously arrested on Feb. 5 in the Southern District of Florida and ordered detained until his appearance in federal court in Springfield, which will be scheduled at a later date, Foley said. According to the indictment, between July 30, 2024 and Oct. 1, 2024, Nyawo posted various communications on X, formerly known as Twitter, threatening to kill an elected U.S. official and their family, a former U.S. official and their family, a former member of a Massachusetts police department and their family, a private individual, local officials and their family members; the children of Wilbraham and Boston; members of the Wilbraham Police Department and Wilbraham Fire Department and their families; and an elementary school in Springfield, among others. In addition, between Aug. 17, 2024 and about Oct. 1, 2024, Nyawo used X to 'engage in a course of conduct with the intent to harass and intimidate the elected United States official, their spouse, their child, their child's spouse, and their grandchildren.' Officials on Tuesday did not specify the U.S. officials that Nyawo allegedly targeted in his social media posts. For all of the charges, Nyawo is facing a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Boston Globe
18-03-2025
- Boston Globe
Wilbraham man indicted for threatening politicians, children, police in social media tirades
Nyawo, who is also known as Michael Jacobs, Robert Jacobs, Carl Fields, Victor Mitchells, and Jonathan Nyawo, is facing one count of stalking and 13 counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications, Massachusetts US Attorney Leah B. Foley's office said in a statement. Advertisement Nyawo converted to Islam a few years ago, and believes authorities are harassing him because he is a 'Black Muslim,' court documents said. Nyawo is unemployed, allegedly has a drinking problem, and takes medication for a bipolar diagnosis, according to charging documents. In the last 20 years, he has traveled to South Africa to visit his father and to the United Kingdom, Senegal, Dubai, Serbia, and Mexico, records show. Nyawo has been Prosecutors allege that Nyawo made the alarming posts from July 3 to Nov. 7, alternately honing in on individuals or specific law enforcement agencies, other times threatening to bomb malls in Holyoke and Burlington, or to 'torch' the children at a Springfield elementary school, charging documents show. On July 30, Nyawo allegedly posted: 'Hey Wilbraham, what do your children think about the death threats they're getting from Isis?' Advertisement On Sept. 21, Nyawo allegedly turned his attention to the Springfield Police Department, urging readers of his posts to 'hunt down and kill' their families 'like they're animals.' Five days later, on Sept. 26, Nyawo allegedly focused on a local couple, writing, 'Shoot up the house on the corner ... that the Egyptian Jew and his Egyptian wife lives in. Kill their children if possible.' By Nov. 4, Nyawo was allegedly calling on the 'Republican Guard [to] go to Washington DC and assassinate the DC politicians. Afterwards, assassinate the political leadership of Miami and Florida. Get the training, support, and money you need from the cartels.' Nyawo has been admitted at least twice to Walden Behavioral Health Center in Wilbraham and Bournewood Psychiatric Hospital in Brookline, court records show. While at Bournewood, hospital staff reported that Nyawo was 'fixated on Jihad,' had a book about destroying America, and said 'it's time for me to die.' Each of Nyawo's 13 charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors said. Tonya Alanez can be reached at
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Wilbraham man indicted for alleged threats made to officials on social media
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Wilbraham man was indicted by a Springfield federal grand jury in connection with violent threats made online toward public figures and their families. Funwayo Mbilini Nyawo, 36, also known as 'Johnathan Funwayo Nyawo,' 'Michael Jacobs,' 'Robert Jacobs,' and 'Carl Fields,' was indicted on Tuesday following his arrest on February 5 in the Southern District of Florida. Wilbraham man arrested for alleged violent threats against officials online The indictment states that between July 30, 2024, and October 1, 2024, Nywao allegedly made numerous posts on X threatening to kill an elected U.S. official and their family, a former U.S. official and their family, and a former Massachusetts police officer and their family. Nywao also allegedly threatened several local officials and their family members, the children of Wilbraham and Boston, members of the Wilbraham Police and Fire Departments and their families, a Springfield elementary school, and others. Nyawo's social media posts occasionally referenced terrorist groups such as ISIS and allegedly called on the organizations to attack or kill individuals or groups he was harassing online. Documents further stated that between August 17, 2024, and around October 1, 2024, Nyawo allegedly engaged in conduct on X with the intent of intimidating a U.S. official, as well as their spouse, child, child's spouse, and grandchildren. Nyawo was indicted on Tuesday with 13 counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications and one count of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Wilbraham man arrested for alleged violent threats against officials online
WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) – A man from Wilbraham has been arrested and charged in federal court in connection with violent threats made on social media towards officials and their families. Funwayo Mblini Nyawo, 36, was arrested last Thursday in the Southern District of Florida and charged in the District of Massachusetts with one count of interstate transmission of threatening communications. South Deerfield woman arrested for assaulting federal agent Charging documents state that Nyawo allegedly posted violent threats on X and Google between the dates of July 30, 2024, and November 7, 2024, specifically targeting local officials such as members of the Wilbraham Police Department the Wilbraham Fire Department, and the Miami Police Department. He also allegedly made threats towards the children of Wilbraham and Boston, malls in Holyoke and Burlington, and an elementary school. Some of the posts made by Nyawo also referenced terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al Qaeda, allegedly expressing a call to arms to harm members of the community through his posts. From November 1 to 4 2024, an account linked to Nyawo made three consecutive posts with statements such as: 'ISIS: Attack Boston again' and 'Mujahideen from around the world. Go to boston. Shoot to kill. Preferably their children.' Nyawo is currently awaiting sentencing. The charge of interstate transmission of threatening communications provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
