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Annapolis resident Justin Kuchta, 39, was charged with interstate communication containing a threat to injure and was scheduled to appear in US District Court in Baltimore on Wednesday, Sept. 7, authorities announced.
US Attorney Erek Barron said that a Congressman’s district office in Texas reported in July that it received a threatening message through an event management website.
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,” according to the CNN report.
“You have the right to your own opinions, but not the right to threaten a federal official’s life,” Barron stated. “We’ll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law.”
If convicted, Kuchta faces up to five years in prison for making the threats across state lines.
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