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Annapolis resident Justin Kuchta, 40, has been sentenced to four months in federal prison, followed by a year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making what turned out to be idle threats, authorities announced on Thursday, April 27.
US Attorney Erek Barron said that a Congressman’s district office in Texas reported in July last year that it received a threatening message through an event management website touting an upcoming appearance for the lawmaker.
The threats were made targeting Sen. Ted Cruz, according to CNN.
According to the DOJ, the message read: “Thank you for the address!!! I’m coming to murder all of you Satanist f--kers!!! Especially the chuckle-f--k Zodiak (sic) Killer (Congress member)!!
“That fat fake f--ker ass will be the first on the gallows!! SEE ALL OF YOU F*CKERS REALLY SOON!!! With my fresh militia and weapons!!! Thanks for the info f--kers!!”
The investigation into the message by federal officials found that the IP address was linked to a private high-speed network in Maryland, and network records found that it originated from a Virtual Private Network and computer assigned to Kuchta, prosecutors said.
Though Kuchta initially denied sending the message, prosecutors say, he later admitted to sending the initial threat from his government-issued computer after being arrested at his workplace in Annapolis.
“You have the right to your own opinions, but not the right to threaten a federal official’s life,” Barron stated when Kuchta was initially apprehended. “We’ll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law.”
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