A chilling online threat has landed a 43-year-old Georgian citizen in hot water. Davit Davitashvili, a naturalized American, has been charged with one count of transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce a threat to injure another person.
According to the Indictment, on March 10, 2020, Davitashvili knowingly and willfully transmitted messages to a woman living in Philadelphia, using an Internet messaging application. The messages contained threats to sexually assault the mother of the woman and to injure, maim, and kill her and others.
The defendant was arrested on June 3, 2021 upon arriving at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York. If convicted, Davitashvili faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said, ‘The defendant is alleged to have sent incredibly scary, disturbing, and intimidating messages to a woman living and working in our city. No one should have to live in such constant fear.’
Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, added, ‘You can’t just threaten people online with violent physical harm. That’s not protected speech — it’s a crime.’
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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