Florida Man Charged with Election-Related Threats
Tampa, FL – On June 8, 2021, William Robert Braddock III, a 41-year-old resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, made several threats to injure and kill his primary opponent, Victim 1, and a private citizen, Victim 2, during a telephone call with Victim 2.
According to the indictment, Braddock threatened to ‘call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad’ and make Victim 1 disappear. After making the threats, Braddock left the United States and was later found to be residing in the Philippines. Braddock was recently deported from the Philippines to the United States and made his first court appearance yesterday in Los Angeles.
Braddock is charged with one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. If convicted, Braddock faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.
The FBI Tampa Field Office is investigating the case with support from the St. Petersburg Police Department. The Justice’s Office of International Affairs, FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché in Manila, and U.S. Marshals Service provided substantial assistance. The investigation also benefited from foreign law enforcement cooperation provided by the Philippine Department of Justice and Philippine Bureau of Immigration.
Braddock’s case is part of the Justice’s Election Threats Task Force, which aims to address threats of violence against election workers and ensure that all election workers can do their jobs free from threats and intimidation.
The task force, launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, has led the department’s efforts to combat election threats. Under its leadership, the task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country.
Defendant: William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg, Florida
Criminal Charge: Interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person
City and State: Tampa, Florida
Exact Date: June 8, 2021
Sentence or Outcome: Braddock faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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