Feds Defer Prosecution of Yonkers Man Accused of Threats
Ridon Kola, 35, must follow conditions for one year, including staying off social media and avoiding contact with Yonkers police.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Law Enforcement
The U.S. Attorney's Office agreed to defer prosecution of Ridon Kola, 35, a Yonkers man accused of threatening to kill police officers and Mayor Mike Spano. Kola and his attorney agreed to the conditions of a deferred prosecution agreement.
Why it matters
The arrangement allows the case to be paused rather than pursued in court, with prosecution able to resume if Kola violates the agreement. The case also involved periods when Kola was declared mentally incompetent and treated at a psychiatric facility.
Kola was arrested in 2023 and is now under a one-year deferred prosecution agreement. Prosecutors could resume the case if he violates the conditions, but the report does not state the specific charges filed.
The players
U.S. Attorney's Office
The federal prosecutorial office that agreed to defer the case under a deferred prosecution agreement.
Ridon Kola
A 35-year-old Yonkers man accused of threatening to kill police officers and Mayor Mike Spano, who agreed to the deferral conditions.
Mike Spano
The mayor of Yonkers, who was among the officials Kola was accused of threatening.
The details
Under the agreement, Kola must stay off social media and have no contact with Yonkers police unless he needs help during a first responder emergency. He was declared mentally incompetent for part of the time since his arrest and was treated at a psychiatric facility.
Timeline
2023: Kola arrested in connection with alleged threats.
November 2, 2026: Deferred prosecution agreement reported.
One year: Length of the deferral period.
Legal Context
Deferred prosecution agreements let federal prosecutors pause a case under set conditions rather than proceed to trial. In this case, the arrangement is tied to a defendant's mental health history and a threat case involving local officials in Yonkers.
Residents of Yonkers are not directly affected by the deferral terms, but the case involved threats against local police and the mayor. Kola is barred from contacting Yonkers police except in a first responder emergency.
The takeaway
Deferred prosecution can pause a case while a defendant meets set conditions, with the threat of renewed charges if those conditions are broken. Readers following similar cases can watch whether the one-year term is completed without violation.
What happens next
Kola's deferral period runs for one year, and prosecutors say the case will not be pursued further if he follows all conditions for the full term.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Law Enforcement in Yonkers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 12 - Westchester.
