A Binghamton man has been arrested after threatening New York state Sen. Lea Webb.
James A. Crosby, 49, is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly posting that he’d be “proud to hang” Senator Webb from a tree in response to a news story about a Juneteenth celebration.
According to WBNG, on June 23, Crosby was arrested on the following charges:
- Four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies.
- Making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony
The day before his arrest, Crosby posted a Facebook apology claiming the comment “was not intended to be racial in any way” and was made in reference to what he described as a “criminal,” citing criticism of Webb over her use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case — a matter state watchdogs said created an appearance of a conflict of interest, per the Ithaca Voice. He was arrested the following day.
During the investigation, it was learned that Crosby was a convicted felon, and during his arrest, troopers found that he had several guns despite being prohibited from owning them.
Investigators found a rifle, a large capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor, all of which are prohibited under New York State law.
Sen. Webb condemned the call for violence in a formal statement:
“It was extremely disappointing and hurtful to see the now-deleted threat and attacks on my life in response to a story about Juneteenth, a national holiday that recognizes the ending of slavery in America. That day reminds us about both how far we have come and the work that still needs to be done in order to make our communities more inclusive and equitable. Feedback and thoughts on policy are one thing, but to make a public call for lethal violence is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous.
We must recognize our shared humanity and reject violence in all forms. Thank you to the community, Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins, Governor Hochul, my colleagues, and staff for your support; and our public safety officials for their swift response and protection during this difficult time. It is critical that we work together to eradicate racism and bigotry whether it’s words or actions.”
Webb represents New York’s 52nd state Senate District, which encompasses Cortland and Tompkins counties, as well as parts of Broome County.