Rochester Woman Convicted of Threatening President

Rochester Woman Convicted of Threatening President

A 38-year-old Rochester woman has been convicted of threatening to kill President Barack Obama and lying to the United States Secret Service. Christine Wright-Darrisaw made the threat during a phone call to the White House on February 24, 2012.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the White House Operator who took the call was called to testify in the one-day trial. The operator described the ‘brutality’ and ‘violence’ of Wright-Darrisaw’s words during her testimony, stating that the call still stands out in her memory nearly two years later.

Secret Service Agents from Washington and Rochester also testified about their investigation and how they identified Wright-Darrisaw as a suspect. Agents in Rochester linked her to the cellular telephone used to make the threat and conducted an interview with her, during which she made several false statements to the Secret Service.

The investigation was conducted by Special Agents of the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge, Tracy Gast. The guilty verdict is a culmination of this investigation.

Wright-Darrisaw faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge. Sentencing is scheduled for May 14, 2014, before U.S. District Court Judge Frank P Geraci.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig R. Gestring and Grace M. Carducci handled the prosecution of the case. The conviction is a significant blow to anyone who would threaten the President or lie to law enforcement officials.

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