Brooklyn Man Convicted of Threatening to Shoot and Kill Employees of the New York State Department of Labor

Press Release

Defendant: "Somebody Might Get Shot Today Coming Out of the Department of Labor"

Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Quadri Garnes of transmission of threats to injure. The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Nina R. Morrison. When sentenced, Garnes faces up to five years in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the <_w3a_listitem listvalue="charges" datavalue="charges"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="deferred prosecution agreement" datavalue="deferred prosecution agreement"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="extradition" datavalue="extradition"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="extraditions" datavalue="extraditions"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="guilty plea" datavalue="guilty plea"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="guilty pleas" datavalue="guilty pleas"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="investigation" datavalue="investigation"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="sentence" datavalue="sentence"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="sentences" datavalue="sentences"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="settlement" datavalue="settlement"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="verdict" datavalue="verdict"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="verdicts" datavalue="verdicts">verdict.

"The defendant used threats of violence as a weapon to terrorize government employees because he couldn't get what he wanted and today, the jury's verdict spoke loudly that such conduct will not be tolerated," stated United States Attorney Peace. "My Office is committed to protecting civil servants who are subjected to work-related threats, and we will do so by vigorously prosecuting offenders like the defendant and demonstrating that there are consequences for such conduct."

"Today's guilty verdict should signal to anyone who makes threats of violence against federal employees, or through creating an environment of fear, attempts to impede or obstruct the services these employees provide to the American people, that your actions will absolutely not be tolerated on any level. Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York, will bring anyone who attempts or threatens to harm these dedicated employees to justice," stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Brubaker.

As proven at trial, Garnes was employed as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service (USPS) at the Homecrest post office in Brooklyn from March 26, 2022 to May 29, 2022. After crashing his postal truck into two vehicles, Garnes was terminated on May 31, 2022. Garnes subsequently applied for unemployment benefits but was denied because he had worked for the USPS for fewer than 60 days and was thus ineligible to receive benefits. On the morning of September 29, 2022, Garnes called the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) and was advised that he had worked for the USPS for too short a period to be eligible to receive benefits. In response, he threatened to shoot and kill employees of the USPS and DOL. During the 45-minute recorded call with two DOL employees, Garnes's statements included:

• If I go back to the post office, I'm gonna shoot somebody.
• Y'all gonna make me go to jail for killing somebody.
• Do the city want me to kill five or six different people?
• I got 18 and a half years in jail. It don't bother me to be in jail. I made myself, meaning like I'm made, as long as I'm in the New York City jail, I'm good.
• You might see this s--t on TV. Just remember my name. You might see it on TV tonight. You, just remember my name!
• Somebody might get shot today coming out of Department of Labor.
• Believe me, I'll be at the New York State Department of Labor down on Schermerhorn or Livingston Street and I will make a big f----ng deal out of it.
  
  Garnes's threats triggered an immediate response by the DOL, the New York State Police and by Postal Inspectors, who took precautions against Garnes's return to the postal facility where he had briefly worked and the DOL office he named. Garnes was arrested approximately two weeks after making his threats.

Assistant United States Attorneys Antoinette N. Rangel and Alexander Mindlin are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Rebecca Roth.

The Defendant:

QUADRI GARNES
Age: 48
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-487 (NRM)

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Updated December 13, 2024