South Carolina Man Arrested For Hate-Based Threats To Kill News Reporter And Her Family

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced today that AUSTIN SUMAN was arrested after he made a series of violent and hate-based threats to a news reporter, threatening to kill her and her family, as well as blow up her house. SUMAN was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this morning and will be brought to the Southern District of New York to be presented in White Plains federal court.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "The charges against the defendant demonstrate our resolve to work at lightning speed to neutralize threats against the press-which serves a vital role in our democracy. To any individual who dares to cross the line and make hate-based threats against members of our press: you will be found, and you will be held accountable for your actions."

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: "Austin Suman allegedly made numerous threats and ethnic slurs to a local news reporter to file a personal grievance against her for her previous reporting of his prior arrest. His alleged threats to inflict significant harm with firearms and explosives were delivered with intimidation and prejudice. Hiding behind a screen will not prevent the FBI's pursuit of those who target others with hateful messages of violence and death."

As alleged in the Complaint:^[1]

On Friday, November 8, 2024, SUMAN sent messages over Facebook and email threatening a news reporter based in Orange County, New York. "You are a dumb spick, we [are] coming for you," he said. "I will end you and your family." "You better stay in [N]ew [Y]ork." SUMAN also threatened to blow up the victim's residence: "I can blow your house off [its] foundation tread lightly." His threats appeared motivated by an article the reporter wrote several years ago, which related to SUMAN's arrest for threatening a former roommate with a firearm, resulting in his guns being taken away. He added that all his guns were returned, stating "I have more guns than ever," including "ful[ly] auto[matic]" weapons. SUMAN's threats also appeared motivated by gender, race, ethnicity, and national origin. "[D]umb fuckin cunt . . . female journalist what a joke." "[D]umb Mexican," he said, while repeating ethnic slurs against people of Hispanic, Latin American, or Spanish descent. "We are going to deport your family all of them . . . [u]seless life. Dumb bitch. I would drag you by your legs naked with my horse." "Guess what I have now? More [guns] than you or your family might know. Fucking spicks."

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SUMAN, 35, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is charged with threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; willfully making a threat involving explosives, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and interstate stalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force in swiftly investigating the threats charged in the Complaint.

This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reyhan Watson is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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