A pair of Mobile, Alabama, men are heading behind bars after pleading guilty to making online threats to injure a police officer. Jamarcus Manuel, 21, was sentenced to serve twelve months of imprisonment, while Justin Gorman, 22, will get out of the joint after serving time-served.
Manuel and Gorman were hit with federal charges of Interstate Communication of Threats to Injure for their comments on an Instagram video. The video captured a traffic stop in Mobile, Alabama, and the duo posted threatening comments targeting the officer involved.
The Mobile Police Department executed a traffic stop in April 2023, and one of the passengers live-streamed the interaction on social media. Manuel and Gorman took it upon themselves to post threatening comments, which caught the attention of the authorities.
“Using social media, the internet, or any other communication channel to make threats is unacceptable,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “This is especially true when threats are made to those merely doing their jobs, like the men and women in law enforcement. We take any threat seriously, and will investigate and prosecute the criminals who violate federal laws by doing so.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation, and Kasee S. Heisterhagen, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The harsh sentences handed down to Manuel and Gorman serve as a warning to those who would seek to intimidate or harm law enforcement officials. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it’s essential for individuals to understand that making threats, regardless of the platform, will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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