Nazi flag and weapons at home: The sentence sparking outrage in the Jewish community

A Nazi flag, a gun, and ammunition were found in the home of Matthew Scouras of Beverly, Massachusetts. He pleaded guilty to 19 weapons charges and was sentenced to two and a half to five years in prison, but could be released on parole in about nine months. The local Jewish community is outraged at the leniency of the sentence.

A Nazi flag, a gun with no serial number, and ammunition were found in the home of Matthew Scouras of Beverly, Massachusetts, but he could be released on parole in about nine months. Scouras, 36, pleaded guilty to 19 weapons charges on October 2, 2026. Judge Elizabeth Dunigan sentenced him to two and a half to five years in prison, minus 641 days already served. The investigation began in January 2025 following an FBI alert about posts that included threats to rape Jewish women and calls to shoot outside synagogues. The threat charges were dropped due to lack of evidence—the IP address was in a foreign country. The local Jewish community believes the sentence is too lenient. After his release, Scouras will be required to undergo two years of supervision and stay away from synagogues in Massachusetts. Additionally, a separate case in Houston is reported: the organization StopAntisemitism warns about Brandon Walsh offering for sale spikes and metal knuckles inscribed with 'Zionist lives don't matter.' The claim has not been independently verified.