2 charged in threat to NYC synagogue after men arrested at Penn Station

MANHATTAN (PIX11) --- One of two men arrested at Penn Station in connection with a threat to the Jewish community in New York City said he has a "sick personality," court documents revealed.

Christopher Brown, 21, and Matthew Maherer, 22, allegedly had a firearm, a high capacity magazine, ammunition, an 8” long military style knife, a swastika arm patch, a ski mask and a bullet proof vest when they were arrested, officials said. Both were arraigned on Sunday after their arrest on Friday.

Before their arrest, the pair met up at Saint Patrick's Cathedral --- they wanted to get a blessing, Brown told police. From there, they got a ride to Pennsylvania. They allegedly went there to buy a gun from a man named Jay.

"I wanted to get a gun. I cash app paid Matt $650 for the gun. However, I changed my mind because I was nervous about the police and didn’t want the gun anymore, but Matt bought it anyway from Jay," Brown said, according to the criminal complaint. "I was there when Matt bought the gun from Jay. We were playing with the gun. I held the gun and then gave it to Matt, who put it in his book bag. We drove back to Manhattan."

Brown allegedly tweeted about their plans from the account @VrillGod. On Nov. 12, "big moves being made on Friday," was tweeted.

"Brutally murder people with hatchets and whatnot," was tweeted in a Nov. 16 video. "How it feels to kill people."

The next day, there was another tweet: “Gonna ask a Priest if I should become a husband or shoot up a synagogue and die.”

On Friday, before their arrest, "This time I'm really gonna do it" was tweeted from the account.

"I have a sick personality," Brown said, according to his criminal complaint. "I was going to be a coward and blow my brains out with it. It took me three years to finally buy the gun. Matt is one of my followers. I have Nazi paraphernalia in my house. I think it is really cool. I also operate a white supremacist Twitter group."

Brown now faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree as a crime of terrorism, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

Mahrer faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

"A potential tragedy was averted when they were intercepted by police officers at Penn Station, given that online postings indicated an intent to use these weapons at a Manhattan synagogue,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “Hateful antisemitic targeting of synagogues is deplorable. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners - the NYPD and the FBI - for their quick intervention in apprehending these individuals before they could carry out any attack. The Manhattan DA’s office will now pursue accountability and justice in this case with the full resources of our counter-terrorism program and recently enhanced and expanded hate crimes unit. We do not tolerate illegal guns or hate in this city.”

Mahrer was arraigned around midnight. Prosecutors asked that he be remanded to custody without bail, but the court set bail at $150,000 cash or $300,000 bail (partially secured or insurance company bond).

Brown was arraigned later on Sunday. He was remanded to custody without bail.