Massachusetts man indicted for cyberstalking a prominent Republican figure
John Anthony Proia III was arrested and charged with cyberstalking a well-known Republican in the Washington, D.C., area after sending dozens of harassing messages.
A federal grand jury in Boston indicted John Anthony Proia III, a 41-year-old resident of Waltham, Massachusetts, on a single count of cyberstalking. Prosecutors say he sent more than 40 messages from various phone numbers to a prominent Republican figure living near Washington, D.C., as well as to her husband and parents between Aug. 3 and Sept. 23. The Department of Justice labeled the communications as “disturbing,” noting the victim’s status as a former political adviser married to a senior federal employee.
The FBI arrested Proia on the day of the indictment, and he appeared before a Boston federal judge that afternoon. Attorney General Todd Blanche lauded the case on social media, and U.S. Attorney Leah Foley emphasized that attempts to hide online harassment will not shield perpetrators from prosecution. If convicted, Proia faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Why it matters
The case shows federal commitment to prosecuting online harassment of political figures.
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