It started with a post — angry, reckless, and public. A man in Roswell, sitting behind a screen, typed out a threat that would echo far beyond the dark corners of the internet. Now, he’s facing 17 months in federal prison.
💻 What Happened: According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 35-year-old John Woodbury posted a message on 4chan on June 7, 2023. The message threatened violence against then-FBI Director Christopher Wray and included what Woodbury claimed was Wray’s home address.
- The post called for violence, urging others to target Wray and his family at their home.
- Woodbury pleaded guilty to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
⚖️ Why It Matters: Threats against public officials are more than words on a screen. When threats cross the line from speech to criminal act, the consequences are real, for the person who made them, and for the people they target.
🔎 Between the Lines: The internet can feel like a lawless place, but federal law draws a hard line when threats turn specific and personal.
- Woodbury’s post named a target, gave an address, and called for action.
- The FBI investigated, and the case landed in federal court.
👀 Catch Up Quick: Woodbury was sentenced by United States District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty to seventeen months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- He pleaded guilty on April 18, 2025.
- The case was investigated by the FBI.
🌐 The Big Picture: Threats against public officials have become a feature of American life, amplified by online platforms where algorithms promote rage to the masses. But the law is clear: threats that cross state lines, especially those targeting law enforcement or government leaders, can bring serious federal charges.
- Officials say these threats undermine the safety of public servants and the stability of the system itself.
- The case is a reminder that the anonymity of the Internet is not a shield from accountability.
The Sources:
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia
- Statements from U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg and FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown
- Federal court records
Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
