Date: 12-16-2021

Case Style:

United States of America v. Bryan Shane Wolfe

Case Number: 1:20-cr-00622-DCN

Judge: Donald C. Nugent

Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (Cuyahoga County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:

Best Cleveland Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description: Cleveland, Ohio criminal defense attorney represented defendant charged with interstate transmission of threats via Facebook.

Bryan Shane Wolfe, 45, of Mansfield, Ohio, was chared for sending threatening communications to three individuals and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

“This defendant deliberately chose to send threats to his victims due to their race, religion and ethnicity,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “These actions were targeted, occurred on more than one occasion and caused lasting harm. Today’s sentence illustrates that threats made online have real consequences and may result in real prison time.”

"The defendant will now serve significant time in prison as a result of his despicable conduct," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. "Social media threats of this magnitude will not be tolerated and are taken seriously. The FBI is committed to investigating threats such as these due to the severe impact they can have on victims."

According to court documents, on November 2, 2019, Wolfe, through his Facebook account, sent pictures and messages to victim T.J. (an African American individual) threatening to kidnap members of the victim’s family while also making racial slurs.

Again, on September 8, 2020, Wolfe, using his Facebook account, sent victim E.H. (an Arab American individual) messages threatening to burn a Quran in the victim’s yard and further sent the victim a picture of E.H.’s home and a bonfire. Wolfe also referred to E.H. using slurs and derogatory terms.

Finally, on September 13, 2020, Wolfe, again from his Facebook account, sent messages to victim J.M. threatening to kill the victim’s biracial children and included a picture of the victim’s children. Wolfe also referred to J.M. using slurs and derogatory terms.

On September 18, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Wolfe and recovered a pistol in plain sight. Wolfe is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to his prior conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence in Morrow County Municipal Court.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division, Kentwood, Michigan Police Department and with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bryson N. Gillard.

18:922(g)(9) Possession of Firearm Having Previously Convicted of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence
(1s)

18:875(c) Interstate Threatening Communications
(2s)

18:875(c) Interstate Threatening Communications
(3s)

18:875(c) Interstate Threatening Communications
(4s)

18 U.S.C. 875 provides:

"(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(b) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(c) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(d) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 46 months concurrent custody; 3 years concurrent supervised release; $100.00 special assessment.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: