[IMAGE: FBI seal]
PROVIDENCE, RI – A North Smithfield man has admitted to sending hundreds of threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend and her family, causing them to live in fear of their safety.
Howard S. Bishop, 38, pleaded guilty to federal charges of cyberstalking and transmitting threats in interstate commerce. According to court records, Bishop sent the threatening messages via the Internet to his ex-girlfriend and her family in Texas between November 2016 and January 2018.
Bishop had a history of violating protective orders, having been found guilty in 2012 of violating a protective order in Travis County, Texas, and receiving a sentence of two years’ probation. A misdemeanor warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2017 for again violating the protective order.
The ex-girlfriend and her family expressed extreme fear for their safety due to Bishop’s actions. The woman was forced to go into hiding with the assistance of the FBI, and her family hired armed security guards to protect their home.
Bishop has been detained since his arrest on January 24, 2018, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2018. The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years supervised release.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Boston Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
Bishop’s guilty plea is announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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