A Roswell man faces federal charges for threatening to injure FBI Director Christopher Wray and others. John Woodbury, 34, has been indicted for transmitting interstate threats, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.
“Sending threats to physically harm a public official in an attempt to thwart the administration of justice is a criminal offense,” Buchanan stated. “Director Wray and other law enforcement officials work tirelessly to safeguard our freedoms and protect our citizens from harm. Threats against such public servants, who have dedicated themselves to enforcing our criminal laws, are especially heinous. Our office will remain steadfast in helping to ensure that public officials are able to carry out their duties free from fear or intimidation.”
The indictment, presented in court, details that on June 7, 2023, Woodbury allegedly posted a threatening message on the online forum 4chan.org. The message included statements such as, “Let’s show them what a [expletive] ‘Nazi’ […] looks like […]. It’s time to burn these [expletive] down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it [expletive] hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their [expletive] door.”
Woodbury was arrested and arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas. The indictment by a federal grand jury came on July 9, It’s important to note that an indictment only contains charges, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Carrico and Jennifer Keen are prosecuting.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. Additional details can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia’s website at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
