Thomas Martin Roberts Gets 11+ Years for Cyberstalking, Gun Crimes

Thomas Martin Roberts, 52, of Wilbur, Washington, is going away for more than 11 years after a federal judge slammed him with a 137-month prison sentence for cyberstalking, illegal gun possession, and burglary-related offenses. Roberts pleaded guilty on June 12, 2018, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possessing an unregistered firearm, and cyberstalking. U.S. District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson handed down the sentence, which will be followed by three years of supervised release upon his eventual freedom.

The case began unraveling on April 19, 2015, when a woman in Wilbur discovered GPS tracking devices attached to both of her vehicles. She had multiple domestic violence no-contact orders against Roberts and was scheduled to testify the next day that he’d already violated one. Wilbur Police Department (WPD) removed one tracker and stored it at the station. Hours later, someone broke in and stole the GPS device along with a Taser. Surveillance and witness accounts pointed to a man in a hoodie who, on the early morning of April 21, yanked the second tracker from her car outside her home.

A search warrant led investigators to Roberts’ residence, where they seized a Winchester Model 70 .270 rifle, AR-15 magazines, and multiple rounds of ammunition. With prior convictions for second-degree assault, harassment with a threat to kill, residential burglary, and first-degree burglary, Roberts was strictly prohibited from possessing firearms or ammo. But it didn’t stop there. Authorities later learned Roberts maintained a room at another property. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) executed a second warrant, uncovering a sawed-off shotgun, nine additional firearms, and a staggering 5,500 rounds of ammunition.

Investigators also found proof Roberts purchased two portable GPS trackers in 2014 — the same type found on the victim’s cars. Digital evidence confirmed he tracked the woman’s movements in real time. He sent her text messages taunting her with precise knowledge of her whereabouts, deepening the psychological terror. The cyberstalking charges underscore how modern technology has become a weapon in the hands of violent offenders, especially those with a history like Roberts’.

“This case sends a clear message that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners are firmly committed to protecting the public and aggressively pursuing individuals who engage in cyberstalking and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition,” said Joseph H. Harrington, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. He praised the ATF, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, and Wilbur PD for their relentless work.

The prosecution unfolded under the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a coordinated crackdown on violent crime involving federal, state, and local agencies. The Spokane Resident Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took point alongside local law enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl A. Hicks prosecuted the case, ensuring Roberts — a repeat offender with a cache of weapons and a trail of fear — will spend more than a decade behind bars.