James A. Crosby, a 49-year-old Binghamton resident, faces felony charges including a hate crime after allegedly threatening New York state Sen. Lea Webb on social media. Following an investigation into his online activity regarding a Juneteenth celebration, Crosby was arrested on June 23, and discovered multiple illegal firearms in his possession.
The Arrest and Charges
James A. Crosby was taken into custody on June 23, following an investigation into threats made against Senator Lea Webb. According to WBNG, Crosby was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony.
In addition to the threat-related charge, investigators discovered that Crosby was a convicted felon prohibited from owning firearms. During the arrest, troopers seized several weapons, resulting in four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies. The items recovered included a rifle, a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor—all of which are prohibited under New York State law.
Context of the Threat
The charges stem from a social media post Crosby made in response to a news story regarding a Juneteenth celebration. In the post, Crosby wrote that he would be "proud to hang" Senator Webb from a tree.
Prior to his arrest, Crosby issued a statement on Facebook attempting to clarify his remarks. He claimed the comment was not racially motivated and argued it was a response to criticism regarding Senator Webb’s use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case. This specific controversy had been previously reported by the Ithaca Voice, which noted that state watchdogs had raised concerns regarding a potential appearance of a conflict of interest in that matter.
Response from Senator Lea Webb
Senator Lea Webb, who represents the 52nd state Senate District covering parts of Broome, Cortland, and Tompkins counties, issued a formal statement condemning the threats.
"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," Webb stated. She emphasized that while policy disagreements are a standard part of public life, calls for lethal violence against elected officials are "absolutely unacceptable and dangerous."
Webb expressed gratitude toward public safety officials for their "swift response and protection" during the investigation. She also acknowledged support from Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins, and her staff.
Legal Precedents and Hate Crime Statutes
In New York, the charge of a terroristic threat as a hate crime carries significant legal weight.
The case remains under the jurisdiction of local authorities as the legal proceedings move forward.
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