HONOLULU – Lindsey Kinney, 44, an Oahu resident, has been found guilty by a federal jury of posting threats to kill on Instagram. The jury trial was presided over by Chief United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson.
The evidence presented at trial revealed that in January 2022, Kinney posted threats on his Instagram account to cut off the heads of three individuals identified as Victims 1, 2, and 3. Victim 1, a government official who had recently been involved in encounters with an individual, was targeted along with his wife and close friend.
In March 2022, Kinney further incited terror by posting a 15-minute video on Instagram where he and another person threatened to kill two government officials, Victim 4 and Victim 5. The threats included statements of violence against the officials and their staff, prompting increased security measures around Victim 4.
United States Attorney Clare E. Connors emphasized the severity of using social media for criminal terrorizing, stating that such acts will be investigated and prosecuted. Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill highlighted that threats towards government officials are a threat to democracy and encouraged immediate reporting of similar activity.
The charges against Kinney carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment each. Sentences are determined by federal district court judges based on guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan prosecuted the case, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducting the investigation that led to this conviction.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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