A Queens man is facing felony hate crime charges after prosecutors say he used social media to threaten Jewish and Israeli New Yorkers, along with members of the NYPD and federal officials.
The man, identified by authorities as 54-year-old Nathan White of Rosedale, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
According to the Queens district attorney’s office, White posted a series of violent threats on the social media platform X on Nov. 7 and 9. In one post cited by prosecutors, he threatened to kill Israelis he encountered in New York City. The posts were later deleted.
White was indicted on charges of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, making a terroristic threat and aggravated harassment, prosecutors said.
“At a time when antisemitic vitriol is rising at an alarming rate, we know that words of hate often escalate into real-world violence,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement announcing the indictment.
City data released this summer shows that, while overall hate crimes in New York City are down – including an 18% decline in reported anti-Jewish hate crimes – incidents targeting Jewish New Yorkers still make up the largest share of reported bias-motivated crimes.
The indictment comes amid a series of recent antisemitic incidents across the city.
Last month, authorities charged a Brooklyn man with stabbing a Jewish man after allegedly making antisemitic remarks.
Around the same time, state officials announced increased security funding for houses of worship following vandalism at several Jewish sites, including swastikas painted in November.
White was arrested at his home on Nov. 10 and is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 19.
An attorney for White did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
