South Carolina Man Charged with Hate Crime for Allegedly Defacing Multiple Buildings at Charlotte Jewish Complex

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A South Carolina man is facing a hate crime charge for allegedly intentionally defacing multiple buildings within a Charlotte complex used by the Jewish community for religious worship, education, and community activities, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Dalton Ray Mullis, 24, of Indian Land, was arrested on Thursday on a criminal complaint and appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler.

"Posting nazi and lynching symbols on the Jewish Community Center is pure hate and it's disgusting," said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. "This is America, which was founded on the free exercise of religion and people ought to be free to worship without being threatened."

"The individual arrested yesterday is alleged to have distributed threatening materials at community institutions in an attempt to create fear or intimidate individuals based on their religious beliefs. These acts undermine public safety and violate federal law. The right to gather, learn, and worship are fundamental in our country and the FBI will continue to work resolutely with our partners to ensure that all members of the public are free to do so without fear." said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis.

"This arrest reflects the strong partnership between the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, and our shared commitment that those who commit hate crimes in our jurisdiction are held accountable," said CMPD Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. "CMPD works tirelessly to keep our community safe, and that includes protecting every person's right to worship without fear. Acts that target or threaten our houses of worship and cultural institutions have no place in Charlotte. We will not tolerate intimidation of any kind, and we will continue to stand with law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of our community."

According to allegations contained in the affidavit filed with criminal complaint, in the evening of January 19, 2026, an individual later identified as Mullis traveled to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) located within the Foundation of Shalom Park (Shalom Park) complex in Charlotte. Shalom Park also includes the Charlotte Jewish Day School (CJDS), the Holocaust Memorial, and other facilities occupied by multiple organizations that operate Jewish religious, cultural, and educational programs. It is alleged that Mullis defaced multiple buildings on the property including CJDS, the Holocaust Memorial, and an employee building, by affixing threatening, antisemitic flyers. The flyers depicted a noose, a swastika, and a Totenkopf or "death's head," which is historically associated with the German Nazi party and SS. It is further alleged that surveillance cameras on the property captured Mullis spraying one of the entrances to the CJDS with what appears to be an adhesive spray and placing the antisemitic flyer onto the door.

Charging documents also allege that between January and April 2026, Mullis posted antisemitic messages and imagery on multiple social media sites through accounts he owned and operated, including the following post:

Antisemitic Social Media Message Allegedly Posted by Mullis

Mullis remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In making today's announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI Charlotte's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case and thanked the FBI in Columbia, the Lancaster County, South Carolina, Sheriff's Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, for their invaluable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dallas Kaplan with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte and Trial Attorneys Taylor Payne and Thomas Cilla with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

The charges against Mullis are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.