ALBANY, NY – Kristin Keeble, 54, of Pageland, South Carolina, is headed to federal jail after being sentenced yesterday for a vicious, racially-motivated threat against a man in Catskill, New York. Keeble received a five-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release – including six months of home detention – for transmitting a threat to injure another in interstate commerce.
The case, spearheaded by the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), revealed a disturbing barrage of hate-filled audio messages. According to court documents, Keeble unleashed four profanity-laced, racially derogatory messages via Facebook Messenger on October 26, 2023. The target: a Black man whose Facebook profile picture alone was enough to ignite Keeble’s venom.
The threats weren’t just idle words. Keeble explicitly threatened to kill the victim by hanging him – alongside a woman he knew and her children – from a tree. Even more chilling, Keeble claimed to be acting on behalf of the Ku Klux Klan, lending a sinister weight to her hateful pronouncements. The investigation quickly confirmed the victim’s race was the driving force behind the threats.
“No one should ever receive despicable, hateful threats like this,” stated Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Those who threaten people over the Internet are going to be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The prosecution underscores a growing federal focus on online threats, particularly those rooted in racial animus.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the corrosive effect of intolerance. “No individual should live in fear because of someone’s intolerance and hatred,” Tremaroli said. “Threats of violence, especially borne from hate, will never be tolerated and the FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners hold the perpetrators accountable for their disturbing actions and bring justice to the victims.” The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing of Keeble. This case serves as a stark reminder that the internet is not a shield for hate, and those who use it to spread terror and violence will face the consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to track this case and others like it, exposing the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of the digital world.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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