Federal authorities say a 24-year-old man from Indian Land, South Carolina, is facing federal hate-crime charges after allegedly plastering Nazi imagery - including a swastika, a noose and a Totenkopf death's-head - across several buildings at Charlotte’s Foundation of Shalom Park earlier this year. Prosecutors allege surveillance footage shows the suspect applying adhesive and putting the flyers on the entrance of the Jewish day school on Jan. 19. He remains in federal custody and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Federal Case And Officials
According to WCNC, prosecutors have identified the defendant as Dalton Ray Mullis, and court filings allegedly link him to social-media posts between January and April that echoed the same antisemitic symbols seen at Shalom Park.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson did not mince words, calling the conduct “posting nazi and lynching symbols on the jewish community center is pure hate and it's disgusting,” while FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said the acts “undermine public safety and violate federal law.” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson also condemned attacks on houses of worship, saying they have no place in Charlotte.
How The Campus Responded
The vandalism first surfaced publicly in January, when staff discovered printed flyers and symbols tacked onto multiple buildings across the 54-acre Shalom Park campus. The site includes the Levine Jewish Community Center, synagogues and the Jewish day school, making it a central hub of Jewish life in Charlotte.
Coverage at the time described a quick response, calls for tighter security and strong public backing for area Jewish institutions as investigators got to work, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Evidence Cited In The Complaint
Prosecutors say surveillance cameras captured Mullis spraying adhesive on an entrance and placing a flyer on the door of the Jewish day school. The criminal complaint includes images of the noose, swastika and Totenkopf symbol that were allegedly displayed, according to WCNC.
The newly unsealed federal filing leans on that surveillance footage along with investigators' review of the social-media posts attributed to Mullis.
Broader Context
Advocates and security experts say this case fits into a larger pattern of antisemitic vandalism and threats across the country. The Anti-Defamation League's 2025 audit recorded 6,274 antisemitic incidents nationwide and has pushed for stronger reporting and enforcement efforts. Those findings have helped spur federal and local agencies to prioritize hate-crime investigations, according to the ADL.
What Happens Next
The charges will now move through the federal court system, with Mullis remaining in custody while prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare their next steps. If he is convicted on the hate-crime counts outlined in the complaint, sentencing could involve significant prison time and fines, depending on the specific counts and any enhancements.
The Justice Department has highlighted ongoing interagency efforts to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, stressing tighter coordination among the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the FBI in cases like this, per the Justice Department.
Local Jewish leaders say the federal indictment helps validate community concerns and underscores continuing security work at Shalom Park. “We are grateful when public leaders and educators and law enforcement and our neighbors can stand with us in protection of religious freedoms,” Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte CEO Adam Kolett told The Charlotte Observer.
Authorities have asked anyone who may have seen suspicious activity around the campus on Jan. 19 to contact investigators.
