TACOMA, WA – In a disturbing display of hate and disrespect for the law, 42-year-old Thurston County resident Steven L. Veres has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for making a threat against a Black federal employee at the Social Security office in Olympia, Washington.
According to records filed in the case, on February 16, 2023, Veres and a companion went to the Olympia Social Security Administration office seeking a replacement Social Security card. When a Black Social Security Administration employee told Veres that Veres lacked the proper paperwork to obtain a new Social Security card, Veres became irate, threatening to assault and, per some witnesses, kill the worker. Veres also repeatedly yelled racial slurs at the employee.
Prosecutors noted that Veres has a history with numerous criminal convictions, including convictions for taking a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and vehicles, forgery, harassment (domestic violence), malicious mischief, methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute, obstruction, and identity theft. He also has a poor record on supervision, having “made himself unavailable for supervision on five occasions” and having been “returned to custody seven times” in his first stint on supervision in the mid-2000s, and then having made himself unavailable for supervision on 17 occasions and having been returned to custody 19 times on his lengthy period on supervision between 2007 and the present.
US Attorney Tessa Gorman stated, “This defendant not only used racial slurs in this case, investigators discovered his use of racial slurs in social media messages back in 2020 when he was threatening to find and assault or kill a different Black victim. Such conduct is a window into his hate-filled mindset that leads to this prison sentence today.”
Under the terms of the plea agreement, both sides asked for a sentence of 30 months in prison. Veres will be on federal supervision for three years following his prison term. As part of the plea agreement, Grays Harbor County will dismiss an unrelated prosecution against Veres for attempting to elude a police officer.
The case was investigated by the Federal Protective Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Will Dreher and Elyne Vaught in coordination with the Criminal Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
US District Judge Benjamin H. Settle also commented, “Your criminal history shows a disrespect for the law.” Veres pleaded guilty in April 2024 to Influencing a Federal Official by Threat. The Court also imposed a hate-crimes sentencing enhancement, finding that Veres targeted the victim because of the victim’s perceived race or color.
April 3, 2026
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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