A Gainesville man was found guilty of threatening to blow up a Roanoke credit union and rape and kill two employees.
Brandon Hayward, 35, was convicted of two counts of knowingly transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure two employees of the InFirst Federal Credit Union, according to the Department of Justice.
The threats were made on August 15, 2022, when Hayward called the credit union’s customer service line to complain about his account. Unsatisfied with the assistance he received, Hayward proceeded to make threatening phone calls to two different employees.
Hayward specifically threatened to rape and kill Victim 1, saying he was going to get his shotgun. He also threatened to find Victim 1 by searching for her last name and stated, ‘You think you’re safe in Roanoke; you’re not.’ Hayward later threatened to come to Victim 2’s home and rape her. Both victims had prior experience with Hayward in the course of their employment with InFirst.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Protective Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin B. Johnson and Lee Brett.
Hayward faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to five years in federal prison at sentencing.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement, saying that Hayward’s actions were unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
The conviction is a reminder that making threats against others is a serious crime with serious consequences. Hayward’s actions put the lives of two innocent people at risk, and he will now face the consequences of his actions.
Hayward’s sentencing is set for a later date. The public will be updated when more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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