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Seattle Man Convicted of Cyberstalking Ex-Roommate
A Seattle man previously employed as a privacy consultant was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of conspiracy to engage in cyberstalking, three counts of cyberstalking in violation of a criminal order, and three counts of cyberstalking, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Sumit Garg, 34, was Indicted in March 2021. He has been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since that time. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2024.
According to records in the case and testimony at trial, in 2020, Garg began an extensive campaign of threats and sexually explicit messaging and posts about a woman who used to share an apartment with Garg’s wife. Using personal information Garg accessed after he moved into the apartment with his spouse, Garg threatened and tormented the former roommate.
Garg also used his computer skills to threaten multiple people in the former roommate’s life, including her uncle who represented her in obtaining a civil protection order; her boyfriend; the Seattle Police Detective who investigated the threats; and even the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who prosecuted Garg for his illegal stalking conduct.
Garg used his computer skills to try to hide who was sending the threats or making the posts. The stalking campaign also grew increasingly violent, ultimately coming to include gruesome threats of rape, torture, and death. Over time, Garg’s stalking campaign involved thousands of emails sent from scores of accounts set up for the purpose of stalking.
Garg enlisted his wife in the scheme – instructing her to send harassing emails to herself and others while he was jailed to make it appear someone else was doing the harassment campaign. He told his wife to destroy clothes he wore when he was in the lobby of the ex-roommate’s apartment building. His wife did send emails but did not destroy the clothes and ultimately cooperated with investigators.
Garg’s wife testified at the trial, stating she felt free to tell the truth when he was booked on federal charges and would not be returning to their home to abuse her verbally and physically.
Congressman Tessa M. Gorman announced the conviction, stating, “The victims were terrified. They were worried for themselves, and they were worried for their families…the victims all suffered substantial emotional distress.”
The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service with assistance from the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Friedman and Senior Trial Attorney Anthony V. Teelucksingh of DOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
In closing arguments, prosecutors explained the serious nature of the crimes, and the consequences for Garg. They stated, “Conspiracy to engage in cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in prison. Cyberstalking in violation of criminal order is punishable by a mandatory minimum of one year and a maximum of five years in prison. Cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in prison.”
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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