Jay Allen Johnson, Threats Against U.S. Senators, Alaska 2021

In a stunning display of brazenness, 65-year-old Jay Allen Johnson of Delta Junction, Alaska, left a trail of threatening voicemails for U.S. Senators, earning him a federal arrest and a serious prison sentence if convicted.

The chilling threats, which included a promise to ‘burn’ the Senator’s properties and hiring an assassin to kill the U.S. Senator, were made on September 2 and September 29, 2021, respectively, at the Washington D.C. office of the Senator.

The investigation revealed that the calls originated from a cellular telephone number linked to Johnson, and the second U.S. Senator received threatening voicemail messages between April 2021 and September 2021.

Jay Allen Johnson is charged with threatening United States officials with intent to intimidate the officials while engaged in the performance of official duties; making interstate threats; and interstate threat to damage property by means of fire or an explosive.

The defendant is scheduled for an arraignment and detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Oravec of the U.S. District Court for Alaska.

If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the most serious charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska and Antony Jung, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Alaska Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey is prosecuting the case.

A complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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