CLEVELAND, Ohio - A New Middletown man now faces a federal charge for allegedly posting a social media threat aimed at the Youngstown Jewish Community Center.

In a federal complaint that was filed on August 19th and unsealed today, the U.S. District Court charges 20-year-old James Reardon with transmitting threatening communications via interstate commerce.

The complaint places a hold on Reardon, who was already in the Mahoning County jail, after being charged locally in the case.

Reardon, who has identified himself as a White Nationalist, is accused of posting a video on Instagram showing him firing several rounds from a rifle above a caption reading, "Police identified the Youngstown Jewish Family Community shooter as white nationalist Seamus O'Reardon."

IRA Seamus is Reardon's on-line ID.

At a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cleveland, New Middletown Police Chief Vince D'Egidio says the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown was tagged in the video, "This video he posted on Instagram was so real, and when it pinpointed the Youngstown Jewish Community Center -- at that point in time we had to take a very, very quick action."

New Middletown's Chief notified Youngstown Police, and the Jewish Community Center security immediately.

Springfield Township Police, the FBI and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force were then called in to assist with the investigation.

Reardon's post led the FBI and New Middletown Police to search Reardon's Eastwood Drive home where authorities found two AR-15 rifles, a rifle with a bayonet, knives, and a 40 caliber anti-tank gun.

Several magazines containing ammunition, a gas mask, and a bulletproof vest were also taken from the home.

The incident prompted extra security at the Youngstown Jewish Community Center and area synagogues.

Justin Herdman, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio wanted to address those who consider themselves White Nationalists directly, "Your right to free speech does not automatically mean that people will agree with you.  In fact, you have a God given and inalienable right to be on the losing end of this argument.  What you don't have though is the right to take out your frustration at failure in the political arena by resulting to violence.  You don't have any right to threaten the lives and the well being of our neighbors."

A 2017 YouTube video and interview from the Charlottesville white supremacist rally in Virginia, shows Reardon answering a question and explaining that his parents don't agree with his views, that his mom is a union teacher, and his dad a blue-collar worker. He says that he is a white nationalist, and he wants a homeland for white people.

According to an FBI affidavit filed with the complaint, Reardon said he met James Fields who drove his car into a crowd of counter-protestors at the Charlottesville rally, killing Heather Heyer.  After the rally, Reardon said he was turned off by the positions espoused at the rally.  However, Reardon said the Neo-Nazi shield found in his basement was from the rally.

Reardon faces charges of telephone communication harassment and aggravated menacing filed in Struthers Municipal Court.  Those charges could be dismissed now that the feds have charged Reardon.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation expressed gratitude to law enforcement and the community. 

"We are grateful law enforcement took the threat posed by James Reardon, Jr. seriously and have confidence in the legal process. We are thankful this is a case where everything went right. The outpouring of support from the community, locally, statewide, and nationally, is greatly appreciated. Though we know of no other threats to the Jewish community or our agencies, we continue to be vigilant about security at the Federation, its agencies, and the area synagogues. We are safe, secure, and open," the statement reads. 

Chief D'Egidio tells 21 News he was familiar with Reardon and his family and that the young man's mother broke down when she saw the video that is the focus of the criminal charges against her son, and it was sad.

"As a juvenile we just had him for some criminal mischief, very minor criminal mischief, vandalism among friends and things like that.  But otherwise, the night of the arrest he was very non-chalant, very complacent and said "Hey, sorry Chief."

Reardon is expected to have his initial appearance before the Youngstown Federal Judge on Friday, September 6th.