Michael F. Hanley, Threatening a Federal Employee, Florida 2024

A former United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee has pleaded guilty to threatening a federal employee. Michael F. Hanley, 49, of Clearwater, Florida, entered the guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

The charge against Hanley carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and $100,000 fine. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. Penrose, who is handling the case, Hanley left a series of threatening voicemails on the victim’s phone between October 15, 2018, and November 13, 2019.

During his tenure at the VA, Hanley became acquainted with the victim, and the two had a history of contentious interactions. The threatening voicemails left by Hanley included threats to kill the victim and the victim’s family.

The investigation into Hanley’s actions was conducted by the VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Algieri. The guilty plea is a result of this investigation.

U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced the guilty plea, stating that the charge against Hanley is a serious offense. The case will now move forward to sentencing, which is scheduled for November 18, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Roemer.

The guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it highlights the importance of taking threats against federal employees seriously. The VA Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to investigating and prosecuting these types of crimes to ensure the safety of federal employees.

For more information about the case, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or fax (716) 551-3051. The public can also visit the U.S. Department of Justice website for updates on the case and other federal crime news.

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