NH Man Gets 33 Months for Threatening Congress

CONCORD, NH – Ryder Winegar, 34, of Amherst, New Hampshire, will spend the next 33 months in federal prison after being sentenced for a chilling campaign of threats against members of the U.S. Congress and a New Hampshire state representative. Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced the sentence today, marking a rare prosecution of direct threats targeting elected officials.

Court documents reveal that on December 16, 2020, Winegar unleashed a barrage of voicemails targeting three Senators and three members of the House of Representatives. The calls, originating from New Hampshire, were explicit in their intent: to intimidate lawmakers into supporting Donald Trump. Winegar frequently identified himself during the calls, leaving a clear trail for investigators. One voicemail, particularly disturbing, stated: “I got some advice for you. Here’s the advice, Donald Trump is your president. If you don’t get behind him, we’re going to hang you until you die.”

The vitriol didn’t stop there. Another message devolved into a hateful rant, declaring, “And it really, really, it boils down to two camps. You either support our president, support liberty, and f*** this global homo, uh, vaccination Jewish agenda, or you’re not. In which case we’re going to f***ing kill you. Do you understand?” The threats weren’t idle boasts; they were specific and terrifying in their detail. Winegar attempted to evade justice, fleeing to Brazil shortly after the U.S. Capitol Police attempted to question him on December 20, 2020, abandoning his family in the process.

His flight was short-lived. Winegar was taken into custody upon his return to the United States on January 11, 2021. Investigators quickly uncovered an additional threat – an emailed message sent on December 14, 2020, to a member of the New Hampshire State House of Representatives. In that message, Winegar threatened to forcibly remove the representative from his bed and hang him. Winegar pleaded guilty on August 6, 2021, and has remained in custody since his arrest.

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that threats of violence have no place in our political discourse,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “While all citizens are free to express their political opinions, it is unlawful to threaten to commit acts of violence against members of Congress or members of the state legislature. This defendant’s graphic threats were a troubling attempt to intimidate lawmakers and a direct assault on the functioning of our constitutional system.” In addition to the 33-month prison sentence, Winegar was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta added, “Threatening to attack and kill six members of Congress and a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives to prevent them from carrying out their constitutional duties is a federal crime, not protected speech. Let’s hope that today’s sentence finally teaches Ryder Winegar that important lesson.” The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Amherst Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau prosecuted the case.

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