Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Joseph Battaglia of the North Brunswick Police Department announced today that a Bronx, New York, man was charged in connection with threats made to an Islamic religious leader.

On Friday, May 26, 2023, the North Brunswick Police Department was alerted to a threat received by a local religious leader. The Spiritual Director for the New Brunswick Islamic Center, located in North Brunswick, received multiple threats via text messages. These messages were explicit and credible. The staff of the Islamic Center communicated with the North Brunswick Police Department to exchange information and furthered the investigation of these criminal acts.

An investigation led by the North Brunswick Police Department, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, identified Khaliyk L. Sellers, 40, of the Bronx, NY, as the perpetrator.

On May 27, 2023, Sellers was arrested without incident in Pennsylvania by the Chester Township Police Department and charged with Terroristic Threats. Sellers faces additional charges in Pennsylvania, since several weapons were recovered when Chester Township Police Department arrested the defendant.

Prosecutor Ciccone would like to thank the North Brunswick Police Department, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the Chester Township Police Department, and the Delaware County Criminal Investigations Unit. The cooperation and outstanding police work conducted by the aforementioned agencies allowed law enforcement to prevent further threats of violence to the members of our community.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Trokovich of the North Brunswick Police Department at (732) 545-3200.

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Sellers are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.