United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced today that JOSHUA HALL has pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with threatening to kill a member of the United States Congress. HALL previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for impersonating family members of the then-President of the United States on social media to fraudulently raise money for a fictitious political organization (a “fraud scheme”). At the time HALL threatened to kill a member of the US Congress, he was on pretrial release awaiting sentencing for the fraud scheme. HALL was arrested on the day the threats were made and subsequently remanded in custody pending sentencing. HALL pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Gregory H. Woods, and will be sentenced on December 8, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joshua Hall made terrifying threats to the staff of a United States Congressman he did not like, instead of trying to make a difference through free speech for all Americans. These threats of violence put our public officials at risk and impede common decency, which is why this office continues to prosecute crimes like the one committed by Joshua Hall.
According to the superseding information:
On or about August 29, 2022, HALL called the California office of a member of the United States Congress (“Congressman”) from or near Yonkers, New York. During these phone calls, HALL made threats to kill the Congressman to at least three different Congressman staffers (“Staff-1”, “Staff-2”, and “Staff-3”).
In a telephone conversation with Staff 1 and Staff 2, HALL stated in substance and in part that he had many AR-15s; that he wanted to shoot the congressman; that he intended to come into the office of a member of Congress with firearms; and that if he sees the congressman he will kill him. He further stated, in substance and in part, that he wanted to “beat the shit out” of the Congressman and would find the Congressman anywhere and hurt him. In a telephone conversation with Staff Member 3, HALL stated, in substance and in part, that he was going to come to the Congressman’s office to kill the Congressman with firearms.
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HALL, 22, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communication and threatening to injure, a charge punishable by up to five years in prison. HALL previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum possible sentences in this case are set by Congress and are presented here for informational purposes only, as the sentence imposed on the defendant is determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the United States Capitol Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the Yonkers City Police Department for its assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit and General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter and Robert B. Sobelman are prosecuting.
