A 64-year-old man from Troy, North Carolina, Jeffrey Hobgood, was apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday, following allegations of sending death threats to a Jewish organization.
The threats were reportedly laced with antisemitic sentiments, with Hobgood allegedly vowing to "take out every one of you" and declaring that "we are at war."
The recipient of these menacing emails was identified by local reports as the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. In one of the emails, Hobgood reportedly wrote,
"I am going to take out every one of you," according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The email, which bore Hobgood's name, also contained a chilling warning: "You cant stop what is coming," as reported by MyFox8.
When local law enforcement in Troy attempted to engage with Hobgood, he dismissed them, stating it was "none of their business" and warning that their presence could be "dangerous."
The suspect allegedly sent a second email to the Jewish organization two days later, beginning with the phrase, "Dear Lucifer/satan sbirds." He continued with a threatening message, "Guess what happens to traitors? Public execution," and added, "We are at war . . . . If you think you semite [sic] pieces of st are going to win, then you are delusional."
Hobgood was subsequently arrested by federal agents in Troy on Monday afternoon and charged with federal communications threats.
Robert DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, condemned the act, stating, "No one should be threatened with violence or acts of hate because of who they are or how they worship," and added, "Crimes driven by hate have no place in our state."
This is not the first instance of Hobgood's threatening behavior. Court documents cited by the Department of Justice reveal that in June 2022, Hobgood sent threatening emails to his own family members.
A woman reported to the Carter County Sheriffs Office in Tennessee that Hobgood had threatened her and her husband via email. The same victim reported Hobgood's threats to the FBI in September of the same year, alleging threats against her and the federal agency.
If found guilty of the federal charge, Hobgood could face a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
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