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Austin Suman, age 35, now residing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in Westchester County with making a threat involving an explosive and related charges in White Plains federal court.
Prosecutors said Suman contacted a Hudson Valley reporter based in Orange County via Facebook messenger on Friday, Nov. 8, threatening to “end” the woman’s family. He allegedly threatened to blow her house “off its foundation” and used multiple racial slurs.
Suman was angered by an article the reporter wrote several years ago relating to his Hudson Valley arrest for threatening a former roommate with a gun, prosecutors said. His weapons were confiscated as a result of the arrest.
In his threats to the reporter, Suman added that all his guns had since been returned.
“I have more guns than ever,” including “ful[ly] auto[matic]” weapons, he allegedly told her.
His threats were also motivated by gender, race, ethnicity, and national origin, prosecutors said. Several of the alleged comments made disparaging remarks against people of Hispanic, Latin American, or Spanish descent.
Suman was arrested Friday morning, Nov. 15, in South Carolina, and will be extradited to White Plains federal court. He is charged with the following counts:
- Threatening interstate communications
- Making a threat involving explosives
- Interstate stalking
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
“The charges against the defendant demonstrate our resolve to work at lightning speed to neutralize threats against the press—which serves a vital role in our democracy,” said US Attorney Damian Williams.
“To any individual who dares to cross the line and make hate-based threats against members of our press: you will be found, and you will be held accountable for your actions.”
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