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Lowell Man Sentenced to Time Served for Threats Against Public Officials
A Lowell man was sentenced to time served followed by 1 year of supervised release with a term of home detention for 8 months after pleading guilty to transmitting threatening communications to public officials in Indiana.
On February 24, 2026, John Andrew Smriga III, 24 years old, of Lowell, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to transmitting threatening communications, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
According to documents in the case, Smriga used anonymizing internet-based phone services to send threatening text messages and images to an elected official in Crown Point, Indiana and a law enforcement officer in Cedar Lake, Indiana. The messages to both victims included pictures of individuals holding and/or mimicking the possession of firearms.
“Public servants are the backbone of the American justice system. Working in tandem, federal and state law enforcement will ensure that individuals who threaten officials online—as John Andrew Smriga III did—are held strictly to account,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Smriga was also ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Francis Sohn prosecuted the case.
The threats against public officials are taken extremely seriously, and the FBI is committed to investigating these threats and holding anyone who seeks to intimidate public servants or endanger our communities fully accountable.
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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