Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
An Arizona man has been sentenced to 49 months in prison for sending antisemitic death threats and engaging in interstate stalking of Jewish victims in New York City. Donovan Hall, 35, from Mesa, Arizona, received his sentence on October 30, 2025, from U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden.
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Hall targeted several Jewish individuals with a campaign that involved approximately 1,000 threatening messages over three months. "Donovan Hall targeted Jewish victims with a sustained campaign of intimidation, terror, and harassment," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "The approximately 1,000 threats he sent to these New Yorkers were alarming and brazen. The prosecution of this case and the sentence imposed make clear that this Office will aggressively bring to justice those who perpetrate senseless crimes of hate."
Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Newark Field Office, emphasized the gravity of Hall's actions and the legal response: "Hall’s sentencing speaks volumes about the severity of his crimes, and the seriousness with which the law takes them. After being remanded for approximately 10 months, Hall’s guilty plea still resulted in the near-maximum sentence allowed for his calculated campaign of anti-Semitic rhetoric. His reign of fear is over and serves as a reminder to those who think they can hide behind computers, phone lines, and texts - the FBI treats all threats of violence with the utmost seriousness. The FBI will not relent in seeking justice for the victims of these egregious crimes."
Court documents show that beginning in August 2024, Hall repeatedly called a Jewish hotel owner in Manhattan—along with family members and hotel staff—making violent threats including torture and murder. In October 2024, Hall escalated by sending text messages containing images of firearms and a machete accompanied by further threats.
Law enforcement searched Hall's residence in Arizona on November 22, 2024. They recovered weapons matching those depicted in his messages; neither firearm was registered to him and one was found loaded alongside his wallet.
Authorities determined that Hall’s actions extended beyond New York City; he sent similar death threats to individuals across multiple states using violent language targeting Jews.
In addition to prison time, Hall was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
Jay Clayton commended efforts by several agencies including the FBI’s Newark Field Office as well as police departments from New York City; Mesa, Arizona; Clifton, New Jersey; along with federal partners in Arizona.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Adelsberg from the Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit within the Criminal Division.
