Billings native Anthony James Cross, 30, has been sent to prison for 30 months following his conviction for threatening to murder Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters after Cross pleaded guilty to the charges in January.
Cross’s crimes included sending voicemail threats to Sen. Tester’s office, which contained explicit language and threats of “kill[ing] every single one of your (obscenity) family members.” Law enforcement traced these calls back to Cross, who had prior encounters with law enforcement.
Additionally, a review of Cross’s social media activity revealed disturbing content, including comments made on YouTube. These comments were attributed to his account and included threats to kill the President and violent statements against transgender individuals. Google alerted the FBI to these comments in April 2023.
Cross admitted to making both the YouTube comments and the voicemail threats when interviewed by law enforcement. The investigation was led by the FBI and the United States Secret Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuting the case.
The court accepted a plea agreement that saw one count against Cross for threatening the President dismissed. In addition to the prison term, Cross will be on supervised release for three years following his release from custody.
Cross’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who threaten public officials and use social media platforms to propagate violent or threatening content.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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