A Las Vegas man has been accused by federal prosecutors of making a string of violent threats against public officials in New York, New Jersey, and other places. According to reports, he was specifically targeting judges linked to criminal cases involving former President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Department announced on Thursday that Spencer Christjencody Gear, aged 32, is facing a 22-count indictment for threatening to injure public officials.
According to court documents, Gear is accused of making threatening phone calls and sending a threatening email to a total of eleven government officials in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The alleged incidents occurred between November 30 and July 7.
According to multiple reports, sources with knowledge of the investigation have identified the individuals who were allegedly targeted by the threats named in the indictment, even though they were only identified by initials.
According to ABC News, the individuals listed as potential candidates for the position of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York include Juan Merchan, who oversaw the criminal case involving hush money payments made on behalf of former President Trump, and Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who pursued the charges.
During the bail hearing in Nevada, the defendant’s attorney contended that there was no evidence to suggest that his client had taken any actions to execute the supposed threats, as reported by Politico.
According to him, in today’s highly charged political environment, it has become commonplace for individuals to make radical statements about political matters without any intention of supporting them.
Reports indicate that Gear is being accused of threatening multiple judges, including U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over two civil trials against former President Trump involving allegations of sexual assault. Additionally, five district judges who handled criminal cases related to the January 6th Capitol attack were also reportedly targeted.
During the bail hearing, Gear’s alleged voicemail message from June 3 addressed to Merchan and Bragg was played out loud by the prosecutors in the courtroom.
According to officials, a significant number of the messages, which were presented in court, contained explicit and aggressive language that was heavily centered around the hatred and mistreatment of women.
According to the court records, the accused was apprehended and detained on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. A trial date of September 24 has been scheduled for the case.
The individual has been accused of committing 10 charges of making threats against a federal official. Additionally, he is facing 12 charges of transmitting a communication that contains a threat to cause harm.
In a written statement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of ensuring that our public servants can perform their duties without the fear of risking their lives.
According to a statement, the Justice Department is committed to ensuring that public servants are not subjected to violence or threats of violence. The department asserts that it will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for such acts.
In February, the head of the U.S. Marshals testified that there has been a rise in threats against federal judges, prosecutors, and public officials. Officials have taken note of this concerning trend.
According to AP News, the U.S. Marshals investigated 457 threats against federal judges in 2023, which is a significant increase from 2021. Some of these threats even included plans to carry out mass shootings at courthouses.
If Gear is found guilty in this case, he could face up to 10 years of imprisonment for every count of threatening a federal official and up to five years of imprisonment for every count of transmitting a threat to cause harm.
The case is currently being investigated by the FBI, United States Marshals Service, and U.S. Capitol Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
