A New York City man accused of sending hundreds of online threats to three Fox News broadcasters and their families has been twice notified by federal prosecutors.
Jeffrey Rodriguez said he was arrested in 2021 and on six charges he was indicted by the FBI. In it he killed Castor and labeled them "Nazis," according to court records.
Instead of seeking a trial or a plea bargain,a Manhattan federal prosecutor signed a deferred prosecution agreement with Rodriguez in his May. A year-long rule that includes not posting on social media about anyone working for the network. The contract also requires that he participate in mental health treatment.
Rodriguez was the victim of an incident earlier this month. A post on Instagram that tagged one of the US Attorney General's Offices, Madison Smyzer, wrote in a letter filed Wednesday.
But rather than vacate the agreement, the prosecutor agreed to acquiesce to Rodriguez and told magistrate Barbara Moses to "advise" him at Thursday's meeting, Just asked to be warned.
"You've been lucky so far," Moses told Rodriguez at the hearing, adding that the federal attorney's office had discretion to arrest him.
"I couldn't stop her," Moses said, referring to Assistant U.S. Attorney Smyzer.
The judge told Rodriguez that prosecutors thought his behavior was erratic and that he had the ability to "grasp [the] conduct."
Rodriguez was off his meds when he posted on Instagram earlier this month, after which he simply said, "He's back."
His attorney, Neil Kelly, added that he believes Rodriguez's threats may have been caused or exacerbated by excessive drinking. Kelly added that clients are seeking more mental health treatments and are also seeking group therapy.
Judge Moses ordered Rodriguez to undergo a random sobriety test for the remainder of the time under a deferred prosecution agreement, then sent him home.
"You have no more chances," she told him before leaving the hearing.
US Department of Justice spokesperson agreement He declined to comment on why he signed the agreement.
According to the complaint against Rodriguez, between March 2020 and December 2021, Rodriguez sent hundreds of threatening messages and posts to broadcasters, ultimately ending up in his two He allegedly blackmailed family members and posted information about where they lived.
He threatened to "crack," "crumple," or "split" the skull, and also said that he would "burst" or "skin" his victims.
Rodriguez was arrested in January 2021 prior to federal indictment and subsequently accused of stalking threats he made to an anonymous first broadcaster. and was indicted in state court on charges of harassment. It is unclear how the case was resolved.
Despite breaking the law, Rodriguez "dramatically" made two other news threats against his personality a few months later, according to the federal indictment against Rodriguez. Increased.
"The rate of his posts, comments, direct his messages directed at Broadcaster 2 and his 3, and the severity of his threats, have increased in the months following his arrest. increased dramatically.” State of Complaints.
"Lumfao. If you knew what this albino could do to me. I'll skin the Nazis alive. Don't think I forgot. Because you left me in the morning. That doesn't mean I won't split your top,' read one of the posts. LMFAO. I know where she lives, where she runs, etc.,” Rodriguez allegedly wrote in another letter. I'm going to box cut my face."
According to the complaint, one unidentified news personality "suffered great emotional distress," fearing for his life and making changes to his life and that of his family. brought
A Fox News spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rodriguez's attorney, Kelly, declined to comment.
