A Wilbraham resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Massachusetts, for allegedly making violent threats on social media. The threats targeted public officials, private individuals, children in Wilbraham and Boston, and an elementary school in Springfield.
Funwayo Mbilini Nyawo, who also uses the names “Jonathan Funwayo Nyawo,” “Michael Jacobs,” “Robert Jacobs,” and “Carl Fields,” faces 13 counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications and one count of stalking through facilities of interstate commerce. He was arrested on February 5, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida and is detained pending his appearance in federal court in Springfield at a future date.
The indictment states that between July 30, 2024, and October 1, 2024, Nyawo posted threats on X (formerly known as Twitter). His targets included an elected United States official and their family, a former United States official and their family, a former member of a Massachusetts police department and their family, local officials and their families; the children of Wilbraham and Boston; members of the Wilbraham Police Department and Fire Department along with their families; as well as an elementary school in Springfield.
Additionally, between August 17, 2024, and approximately October 1, 2024, Nyawo allegedly used X to harass and intimidate an elected U.S. official along with their spouse, child, child’s spouse, and grandchildren.
If convicted on all charges, Nyawo could face up to five years in prison per charge. Each charge also carries up to three years of supervised release and a fine reaching $250,000. Sentencing would be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen from the FBI's Boston Division; Special Agent J. Thomas Manger from the U.S. Capitol Police. The case benefits from assistance provided by local law enforcement agencies including the Wilbraham Police Department and Miami-Dade Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow is handling prosecution efforts.
It should be noted that these are allegations contained within charging documents. As such, the defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
