Ex-Monmouth County Man Admits Threatening Judges, Cops and Lawyers

Freehold NJ

19 May, 2022

5:11 PM

Description

TRENTON, N.J. — A former Monmouth County man has admitted making threatening telephone calls and sending threatening emails to various New Jersey state officials and law firms — including making a false bomb threat to the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Eric G. Hafner, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp, here, on May 17 to one count of making threatening communications in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to extort; one count of making threatening communications in interstate or foreign commerce; and one count of conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive device. Hafner was originally charged with transmission of threatening communications in a one-count criminal complaint on Oct. 6, 2016, which remained under seal until his arrest in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. Territory, on Sept. 27, 2019, where he had an initial appearance before Chief U.S. District Judge Ramona V. Manglona, according to previous press releases from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Hafner had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court upon his arrival in the District of New Jersey on Oct. 23, 2019. At that time, Hafner was ordered detained without bail, the statement said. Hafner lived in Bradley Beach and may have also lived in Fair Haven and at one point in Toms River in Ocean County (Ocean County), according to Matthew Reilly, public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office/District of New Jersey. Hafner is notable for running (unsuccessfully) for Congress from Hawaii and then Oregon while in hiding. Reilly said that Hafner continues to be detained. Hafner's sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21: The count of making threatening communications in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to extort carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.The count of conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive device carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.The count of making threatening communications in interstate or foreign commerce carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, between July 2016 and May 2018, while living outside the United States, Hafner communicated threats to numerous individuals located in and around Monmouth County and elsewhere. The victims were elected officials, judges, police officers, attorneys, and their families. Hafner sought to extort $350,000 from some of his victims. During this time period, Hafner also made false bomb threats to an elected official's office, the Monmouth County Courthouse, a police department, two law firms and a commercial establishment. Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Messenger, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked detectives of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office; officers of the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office; New Jersey State Police; the Bradley Beach Police Department; Fair Haven Police Department; Aberdeen Police Department; the Hazlet Police Department; Shrewsbury Police Department; the Red Bank Police Department; the Freehold Township Police Department; the Middletown Police Department; the Neptune Township Police Department; the Oceanport Police Department; the Deal Police Department; and the Manasquan Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian D. Brater and R. Joseph Gribko of the U.S. Attorney's Office's Criminal Division in Trenton. Calls to the attorney for Hafner were not immediately returned. Send news tips to Pat McDaniel at [email protected].