New York Criminal Lawyer Blog
A former hedge-fund manager sits in a New York City jail today after he was arrested January 13 for making death threats against federal regulators, a collegue discovered. The government alleges that the accused sent emails that were laced with profanity to at least 47 current and former members of the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTA), the National Futures Association (NFA), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FIRA).
Sources report to a reporter that U.S. prosecutors further allege that the former 50-year old commodities trader maintained an “execution” list of these regulatory officials on his company website. They are including the words that are alleged to have come from his website, “Go buy a gun, and let’s get to work in taking back our country from these criminals,” and that “I will be the first one to lead by example.” One of the government’s pieces of key evidence is that one of the emails that was reportedly sent by the accused to the NFA’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) reportedly reads, “It wasn’t ever a question of ‘if’ I was going to kill you, it was just a question of when.”
As is always the case, there are two sides to every story, and this story is no different, claims a source. The accused former trader says that these charges are the result of those officials in the regulatory agencies that have a grudge against him that began about 10-years ago after he was acquitted of charges of mail fraud and for allegedly making false statements. Following his acquittal, he applied to have his licenses reinstated, which was denied. Completion of the appeals process would also see the denial of reinstatement of his licenses. Following these denials, the accused had allegedly sent out threats to those involved at that time as well. These threats resulted in the accused agreeing to undergo therapy for anger management.
Regardless of which side of the story one believes, the accused is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This is true everywhere including New York and Suffolk County.
If convicted, the former Wall Streeter faces up to two federal counts of “transmission of threats to injure” that he has been charged, that could result in a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.
If you have been charged with a serious federal or state criminal offense, it is essential to have experienced legal representation. Contact a New York Criminal Attorney who will stand up for your rights. Your freedom, job, and reputation are at stake.