Syracuse man charged with making death threat against Rep. Katko

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A Syracuse man has been arrested and charged with making a death threat against Rep. John Katko because he was upset about net neutrality, according to the U.S. District Attorney's Office.

Patrick D. Angelo, 28, was charged with criminal contempt with interstate communication of a threat and threatening a federal official. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York in Rochester, the criminal complaint alleges that the congressman's Washington, D.C. office received a threatening voice mail on Oct. 19 that included a death threat to Katko and his family.

The message stated:

Listen Mr. Katko, if you support net neutrality, I will support you. But if you don’t support net neutrality, I will find you and your family and I will killyouall. Do you understand? I will literally find allofyou and your progeny and t- just wipe you from the face of the earth. Net neutrality is more important than the defense of the United States. Net neutrality is more important than free speech. Net neutrality is more important than health care. Net neutrality is literally the basis of the new society. That even if you don’t understand, how important it is, net neutrality is literally the basis of the newfreesociety. So if you don’t support it, I am willing to lay down my li- (recording ends).

The message was not heard by the office for four days due to the volume of calls the office received, according to court documents. Katko's office reported the voicemail to the United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, which began an investigation in coordination with the FBI, the DA's Office said. The telephone number that the call originated from traced back to the defendant, officials said.

“While citizens are certainly entitled to communicate their views on issues of importance to them to their elected officials, there are and must be bounds to the manner in which such views may be expressed," said U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “We will respond aggressively to those who overstep those bounds and seek to influence the making of Federal policies and legislation by making threats to the lives of those entrusted with such tasks and their families.”

READ ALSO: What does it mean for you? The net neutrality debate

As a result of the threat, security surrounding Katko was increased, officials said. Since he formerly served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York, that office was recused, and the case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.

“All threats are reported to the U.S. Capitol Police in order to ensure the safety of Rep. Katko, his family, and staff," said Katko spokesperson Erin O'Connor. "The Congressman and his family appreciate the diligent work of our local, state and federal law enforcement in monitoring these threats and taking appropriate action.”

According to federal court documents, Angelo met with federal agents at a Syracuse-area McDonald's where he at first denied making the threatening call, but then admitted to it because he was upset about net neutrality.

Angelo made an initial appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks and is being held pending a detention hearing on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Vadim Thomas, Special Agent-in-Charge, Albany Office, the New York State Police, under the Major Philip T. Rougeux, and the United States Capitol Police, under the direction of Matthew R. Verderosa.