By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews.com
PLANO, TX — A Plano man has been indicted in New York on charges of making terroristic threats as a hate crime after leaving a series of anti-Muslim messages for New York State Assembly Member and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Indictment in Queens
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Jeremy Fistel, 44, was arraigned September 18 on a 22-count indictment that includes making a terroristic threat as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.
Prosecutors say that beginning in June, Fistel left multiple voicemails and a written message for Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim and the son of Ugandan immigrants. In one message, he allegedly told Mamdani to “go back to Uganda before someone shoots you in the head and gets rid of your whole family.” In another, he warned: “Go on and start your car. See what happens… Watch your back every second until you get out of America.”
Katz called the threats “increasingly alarming” and said there is “no room for hate or bigotry in our political discourse.”
Fistel’s attorneys have entered a not guilty plea. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. His next court date is November 19.
Plano Police Confirm Arrest
Plano Police Department confirmed that its detectives coordinated the arrest after receiving information from New York authorities.
Public Information Officer Jerry Minton told TX3DNews: “Plano detectives received a BOLO (be on the lookout) notice regarding an individual living in Plano. Detectives alerted patrol officers, who responded to the address in Plano and took the suspect into custody.”
Minton said New York personnel then took responsibility for transporting Fistel to Queens to face charges.
Local Community Response
Muslim families in Collin County say the case has added to ongoing safety concerns.
Dr. Taha Ansari, a McKinney physician and community leader, said incidents like this “create a sense of vulnerability and fear” for families who have lived in the area for decades. “When something like this happens so close to home, it shakes that sense of belonging,” he said.
Ansari pointed to recent events in McKinney — vandalism of the Islamic Association’s property and a man entering a mosque saying he wanted mosques gone from America — as part of a troubling pattern. “These incidents are interconnected. They send a message that Muslims are not welcome, and that’s dangerous.”
He added that the concern extends beyond mosques. “Parents worry more when dropping their kids off at school or youth activities. Places of worship often have to add security, which can make a sanctuary feel more like a guarded space.”
Ansari was especially critical of rhetoric from elected officials. “When elected officials use fear-mongering language or single out a demographic, it legitimizes prejudice and emboldens extremists. Unfortunately, there are folks like Congressman Keith Self who promote hate and spread false information about Islam. Look at his post from September 9th where he claimed that Islam is tearing the fabric of American values like faith, family, and freedom. He also spread false information about Sharia law, which cannot be implemented in our country. Politicians like Keith Self need to be held accountable for their words and actions.”
At the same time, Ansari praised McKinney’s leadership. “Mayor Bill Cox and the City Council were quick to condemn the vandalism and express solidarity. That makes a difference. Local leaders can help by speaking out firmly against hate and by investing in partnerships, interfaith efforts, and public education that highlight our shared values.”
He emphasized that the issue affects everyone. “These incidents don’t just impact Muslims — they weaken the fabric of our community. Fear divides us. Collin County is home to families of every background who want the same things: safety, opportunity, and a better future for our children.”
Political Reactions
Illustrating Dr. Ansari’s concerns about political rhetoric, U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R–TX-03), who represents much of Collin County, has frequently raised concerns about Islam and Sharia law. On September 17, he pinned a message to the top of his official X account stating: “Sharia has no place in America.”
Evan Hunt, a Democratic candidate running against Self in TX-03, issued a statement to TX3DNews that tied the Plano arrest to broader questions of religious freedom.
“Violent threats and hateful acts—whether a Plano man threatening a political leader in New York or a welcome sign vandalized in McKinney—undermine the freedoms our Founding Fathers enshrined in the First Amendment,” Hunt said.
He continued: “My opponent has used social media to suggest Islam itself is a threat, confusing private religious practice with harsh systems of Sharia law abroad. For Muslims in America, Sharia is personal—guidelines for diet, prayer, charity, and family life—no different than how Christians and Jews live their faith. Civil law always comes first, and faith is protected, exactly as the Constitution intended.”
Local Impact
Fistel’s indictment is being prosecuted in New York, but it carries local weight because of his Plano arrest and the role of Collin County law enforcement.
For many residents, the case — combined with recent vandalism, incidents at mosques, and rhetoric from political leaders — has made religious safety an everyday concern in Collin County.
As Dr. Ansari said: “Muslims in Collin County are proud Americans who contribute to every part of our community — business, schools, health care, public service. We want our children to grow up feeling safe and valued, not singled out because of their faith.”
TX3DNews has reached out to Rep. Keith Self for comment and will update this article if a response is received.