An Arizona man has been sentenced to 49 months in prison for making antisemitic death threats and interstate stalking of Jewish victims in New York City. Donovan Hall, 35, from Mesa, Arizona, received the sentence on October 30, 2025, from U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York stated: “Donovan Hall targeted Jewish victims with a sustained campaign of intimidation, terror, and harassment. 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, said: “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.”
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Hall contacted several individuals in New York City around 1,000 times over three months beginning August 2024. He directed anti-Semitic and violent threats at a hotel owner in Manhattan—along with family members and staff—including threats to torture or kill them.
In October 2024, Hall escalated by sending text messages containing photographs of two firearms and a machete to one victim along with explicit threats against their safety. Authorities searched Hall’s residence in Arizona on November 22, 2024; they recovered both firearms shown in his messages (neither registered under his name), ammunition, other weapons—and found one firearm loaded.
The investigation revealed that Hall’s threatening communications extended beyond these victims; he sent similar violent messages targeting Jews across various parts of the United States.
In addition to his prison term, Hall was sentenced to three years supervised release following incarceration.
Jay Clayton commended efforts by multiple agencies including the FBI’s Newark Field Office as well as local police departments from New York City; Mesa Police Department; Clifton Police Department (New Jersey); FBI Phoenix Field Office; and U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Arizona.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Adelsberg from the Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit within SDNY’s Criminal Division.
