Feds Charge Woman with Threatening a ‘Massacre’ at Popular Restaurant
A Bronx woman has been charged by the feds for sending texts claiming to "shoot up" a New Rochelle restaurant. -File Photo
NEW YORK - The feds have charged a Bronx woman with threatening to commit a “massacre” at a nationwide restaurant. Prosecutors said the suspect sent texts to the restaurant threatening to shoot up the crowded eatery.
US Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams announced the arrest of Jayleen Mota for making threatening interstate communications, in which Mota threatened to shoot up a popular nationwide chain restaurant and sports bar located on LeCount Place in New Rochelle on Saturday night.
“Actual or threatened gun violence cannot be tolerated. Simply put, those who place the public in fear by engaging in or threatening the use of violence will be held accountable,” Williams said. “This Office commends the swift action of the New Rochelle Police Department and the FBI in quickly tracking down this threat.”
“As alleged, Ms. Mota sent a series of text messages in which she threatened to commit a mass shooting at a crowded New Rochelle restaurant,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll. “Communicating threats like those we allege she made can waste valuable law enforcement resources and cause unnecessary alarm in our communities.
“Today’s charges should serve as a reminder for all that the FBI takes these types of threats seriously, and there will be consequences for those who make them,” Driscoll said.
On April 15, 2023, the NRPD received a call from an individual (“Caller-1”) who had received an initial text message from an unknown person, later identified as Mota, threatening to “shoot up” a popular nationwide chain restaurant and sports bar located on LeCount Place in New Rochelle (the “Victim Restaurant”). The text message further stated that there would be a “massacre” and “lots of people are going down.”
A subsequent text message stated that “today’s a busy night because of the game DON’T TAKE ME AS A JOKE lots of people will die DON’T CALL THE STORE AND RUIN MY PLANS I’m gonna make the news.”
That same day, the NRPD received a call from a second individual (“Caller-2”) who had received an identical text message from an unknown person threatening to “shooting up” the Victim Restaurant and commit a “massacre,” stating, “lots of people are going down.”
The NRPD took the phone number from which the text-message threats were sent and traced the number back to Mota.
On the evening of April 15, 2023, pursuant to a search warrant, the FBI and New Rochelle Police searched Mota’s apartment and found both Mota and the cellphone from which Mota allegedly sent the threats.
After informing Mota of her Miranda rights, she consented to being interviewed and admitted that she had sent text messages threatening to shoot up the Victim Restaurant to five individuals.
Mota, 21, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with making threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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