Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A man from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, has been arrested for allegedly making violent threats on social media against officials, private individuals, children, and locations such as shopping malls and an elementary school. Funwayo Mbilini Nyawo, also known by several aliases including “Jonathan Funwayo Nyawo” and “Michael Jacobs,” faces one count of interstate transmission of threatening communications in the District of Massachusetts.
Nyawo was apprehended in the Southern District of Florida and will remain detained until his federal court appearance in Springfield, Massachusetts. According to documents filed in federal court, between July 30 and November 7, 2024, Nyawo posted various threats on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Google targeting officials and their families; members of the Wilbraham Police Department; shopping malls in Holyoke and Burlington; an elementary school; among others.
The charging documents detail explicit threats made by Nyawo to bomb or shoot his targets. For instance, on August 21, 2024, he allegedly posted a threat stating: “wilbraham and boston: time for your children to die... The Wilbraham Police and Fire Department I’m going to kill their families next.” On September 27, he reportedly threatened an elementary school with the message: “Torch it. Kill the kids,” accompanied by a photograph of the school.
Nyawo's posts also allegedly called followers of ISIS, Al Qaeda or mujahadeen to action. Between November 1-4, he purportedly urged attacks with messages like: “ISIS: Attack Boston again” and "Mujahideen from around the world: Go to boston. Shoot to kill."
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison along with three years supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen from the FBI’s Boston Division; and J. Thomas Manger from the United States Capitol Police. Assistance came from Hampden County Sheriff’s Department as well as Wilbraham and Miami-Dade Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow is handling prosecution.
It is important to note that these details are allegations at this stage. The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.