Grimy Times has learned that Joshua Russell, a 46-year-old man from Bucyrus, Ohio, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for sending death threats to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office during the 2022 primary and general elections.
Russell left a series of voicemails between Aug. 2, 2022, and Nov. 15, 2022, threatening the life of Victim-1, an election official with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. The messages accused Victim-1 of failing to protect the 2020 election and committing election fraud.
“You’re the enemy of the United States, you’re a traitor to this country, and you better put your sh[inaudible], your [expletive] affairs in order, ’cause your days [inaudible] are extremely numbered. America’s coming for you, and you will pay with your life, you communist [expletive] traitor [expletive].”
Russell left another voicemail for Victim-1 on Sept. 9, 2022, calling Victim-1 a terrorist and a criminal, and stating that “[y]ou have a few short months to see yourself behind bars, or we will see you to the grave. You are a traitor to this nation, and you will suffer the [expletive] consequences.”
“Thorough reporting leads to prompt charging and timely deterrence of those who would disrupt democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona. “Here, a threat reported during the August 2022 primary election was charged before the end of the calendar year. Thanks to the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State for making a detailed initial report, and to the FBI for its efficient and detailed investigation.”
Russell pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. The FBI Phoenix Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Boston Field Office. Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, “If you threaten violence against the public servants who administer our elections, there will be consequences. The right to vote, which is the cornerstone of our democracy, relies on the ability of election workers and election officials to perform their duties without fearing for their lives. The Justice will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who threaten these public servants.”
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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