The US Department of Justice announced that Akram Morsit, a 42-year-old Libyan man, was convicted by a federal jury of threatening two federal judges in Rochester, New York, with death. The conviction was based on an incident that occurred on January 10, 2024, when Morsit called the office of a federal court clerk in Western New York and threatened the judges after his civil case was dismissed.
According to the Department of Justice, during the phone call, Morsit used profanity and referred to the judges as "criminals" before making direct threats to kill them. The threats were related to a civil case that Morsit had filed, which was subsequently dismissed by the court. The clerk who received the call recognized Morsit's voice, having spoken with him several times before.
The investigation into Morsit's threats involved multiple US law enforcement agencies, including the US Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New York State Police. The case was prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, with Assistant US Attorneys Everardo Rodriguez and Kathleen Hartford leading the prosecution.
The conviction marks a significant development in the US government's efforts to combat threats against federal judges and ensure their safety while performing their official duties. The Department of Justice emphasized that protecting members of the judiciary from threats is a top priority and that it will continue to pursue cases involving such threats aggressively.
Morsit faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the crime. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February 1, 2027, before US District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. The final sentence will be determined by the court at that time.
The case highlights the importance of safeguarding the judiciary and ensuring that judges can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or violence. The US Department of Justice remains committed to protecting the integrity of the judicial process and holding individuals accountable for threatening or harming judges and other members of the judiciary.
The conviction of Akram Morsit serves as a reminder that threatening federal judges is a serious crime that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The US government will continue to work to prevent such threats and ensure the safety and security of the judiciary.
Key points
- The US Department of Justice has convicted a Libyan man, Akram Morsit, of threatening two federal judges with death.
- The conviction was based on an incident that occurred on January 10, 2024, when Morsit called the office of a federal court clerk and made direct threats to kill the judges.
- Morsit faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the crime, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for February 1, 2027.
