CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – In a landmark ruling, Daniel McMahon, 32, was today sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his chilling campaign of racial intimidation and cyberstalking. The sentence was handed down by the Western District of Virginia court, following McMahon’s guilty plea to charges of racially-motivated interference with an election in Charlottesville and cyberstalking in Florida.
Much of McMahon’s campaign of terror centered on his use of online pseudonyms such as ‘Jack Corbin,’ ‘Pale Horse,’ ‘Restore Silent Sam,’ and ‘Dakota Stone’ to propagate white supremacist ideology. One of his most heinous acts was when, under the guise of these aliases, he threatened violence against an African-American Charlottesville City Council candidate, D.G., using racial slurs and invoking stereotypes in a social media post that explicitly aimed to terrorize the candidate because of his race and political aspirations.
In addition to his racial threats, McMahon faced charges for cyberstalking through Facebook. Under his alias ‘Restore Silent Sam,’ he admitted to sending numerous intimidating and threatening messages to Victim 2, who was actively opposing white nationalist rallies in her community. The defendant’s actions were not just online; they had very real consequences in the lives of these victims.
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division emphasized that ‘Americans have the right to run for office without facing racially-bigoted threats,’ and vowed the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting civil rights and preserving democracy. U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez echoed this sentiment, noting that infringement on these rights is a risk to our nation’s democratic foundation.
U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen highlighted McMahon’s misuse of social media, stating that his actions crossed the line from protected speech to unlawful threats and harassment. Special Agent in Charge David W. Archey of the FBI’s Richmond Division commended the victims for their courage and thanked law enforcement partners for their dedication during the investigation.
The sentence handed down today serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of using social media to incite violence, spread hate, and undermine the rights of others. It is a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice and the unwavering commitment to protect all Americans under the law.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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