UPDATE: U.S. Attorney Erek Barron gives easy plea deal to Justin Kuchta who used his Maryland Comptroller’s Office computer to threaten Member of Congress – four months in prison
Justin Kuchta sentenced to four months in federal prison in a plea deal for threatening GOP member of Congress
COURT NEWS: JUSTIN KUCHTA MAY GO FROM WORKING FOR TAX MAN TO MAKING LICENSE PLATES: Employee of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot Facing Federal Charge for Threatening a GOP Member of Congress
Baltimore, Maryland – A criminal complaint has been filed charging Justin Kuchta, 39, of Annapolis, Maryland, with a federal charge for sending messages over the Internet that threatened to injure a United States Member of Congress and allegedly using his Maryland Comptrollers Office computer to send the threats. It is unclear at this time if Kuchta was fired by Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot or if he resigned. A request to the Comptroller’s Office for this information and response will be provided in an update to this story.
The complaint was filed on September 6, 2022, and unsealed on Sept. 7, 2022. Kuchta is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore today at 2:30 p.m. before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner.
The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron.
“You have the right to your own opinions, but not the right to threaten a federal official’s life,” said United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron. “We’ll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Thank you for the address!!! I’m coming to murder all of you Satanist f*ckers!!! Especially the chuckle-f*ck Zodiak [sic] Killer [Member of Congress 1]!! That fat fake f*cker ass will be the first on the gallows!! SEE ALL OF YOU F*CKERS REALLY SOON!!! With my fresh militia and weapons!!! Thanks for the info f*ckers!!!”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Kuchta made threats to murder a U.S. Member of Congress. The affidavit alleges that a U.S. Member of Congress’ district office in Texas reported that on July 18, 2022, it received a threatening message via an event management website. The message stated, “Thank you for the address!!! I’m coming to murder all of you Satanist f*ckers!!! Especially the chuckle-f*ck Zodiak [sic] Killer [Member of Congress 1]!! That fat fake f*cker ass will be the first on the gallows!! SEE ALL OF YOU F*CKERS REALLY SOON!!! With my fresh militia and weapons!!! Thanks for the info f*ckers!!!” According to the affidavit, the Member of Congress’ Washington office reported that a similar message was sent on July 22, 2022, using the same event management website.
As detailed in the affidavit, an investigation revealed that the IP address was registered to a private high-speed network operated by the State of Maryland. Network records revealed that the IP address originated from a Virtual Private Network and computer assigned to Kuchta. Kuchta was subsequently interviewed by Special Agents with the U.S. Capitol Police at his place of employment in Annapolis, Maryland.
If convicted, Kuchta faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for interstate communication containing a threat to injure. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Maryland court records show that Justin Douglas Kuchta was served with a peace order filed by Rebecca Benner on October 9, 2003 which was finalized later that month. Kuchta lived at 1122 Little Magothy View in Annapolis at the time of the court proceedings in Anne Arundel County District Court.
2019 Comptroller’s Office Salary for Justin D Kuchta; 2021 Salary – $70,000
- First Name JUSTIN
- Middle Initial D
- Last Name KUCHTA
- Organization Comptroller of Maryland
- Gross Yearly Earnings $62,000
- Base salary $63,000
- Regular earnings $62,000
- Other earnings $500
MECHANICS WANTED
