Walter Ray Poindexter, COVID-19 Hoax Claim, Ohio 2020

State: Ohio
Agency: DOJ USAO
Category: Fraud &#038; Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/cleveland-man-charged-covid-19-hoax-0" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Official Source ↗

WALTER RAY POINDEXTER, a 32-year-old Cleveland resident, has been slapped with a four-count federal indictment for falsely claiming he had the coronavirus. U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman revealed the charges against Poindexter during a press briefing today.

The chaos began on March 14, 2020, when GCRTA Police officers found Poindexter aboard a trolley in downtown Cleveland, reportedly acting intoxicated. The arrest led to a series of events that would see Poindexter charged with spreading panic and misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court documents, Poindexter was transported to Cuyahoga County Jail where he made claims of having difficulty breathing and coronavirus. He is accused of purposefully coughing towards officers as they attempted to take him into custody, and again when directed by jail staff. This brazen act was not his last.

After being rushed to MetroHealth hospital for evaluation, Poindexter’s behavior escalated. He repeatedly alleged having the virus and coughed towards healthcare workers, paramedics, and police officers. His audacity reached a climax when he spat directly in the face of a paramedic during transfer to the hospital bed.

Pathogen tests on both Poindexter and the paramedic came back negative for COVID-19. Despite this, Poindexter is now facing serious charges that could send him behind bars if convicted.

The case against Poindexter was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the GCRTA Police, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Jerome J. Teresinski. An indictment is merely a charge, and Poindexter maintains his innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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