Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Threatening Massachusetts Woman

DOJ Press

BOSTON – A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to threatening, harassing and intimidating a Massachusetts woman through social media and email.

Marshall Nicholas Fain, 31, of New Haven, Conn., pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2022 in federal court in Boston to one count of cyberstalking and one count of transmitting threats through interstate commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21, 2022. Fain was arrested and charged on Feb. 2, 2022.

“People deserve to end relationships without fear. Too often, women are the targets threatening, controlling and/or violent behavior. In response to the end of his two-year relationship with the victim, Mr. Fain terrorized her for several months, making her fear for her life and the lives of her family. In the face of aggressively disturbing and intimidating threats this woman bravely notified federal authorities of Mr. Fain’s abusive behavior. Thanks to this woman’s enormous strength and courage, Mr. Fain must now answer for the fear and pain he caused,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Threats of violence, regardless of whether they’re made in person or sent from behind a keyboard, are illegal and will not be tolerated by my office. Stalking and threatening others online are serious crimes that deeply impact victims’ mental, emotional and physical welfare. The internet does not offer you anonymity – perpetrators will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable.”

“The victim in this case did not let fear silence her. She courageously came forward and worked with the FBI to help bring Mr. Fain’s campaign of torment to an end,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.” Words can and do lead to violence, and the FBI would like to take this opportunity to urge victims of online threats to report the crime because we will not hesitate to investigate these cowardly acts.”


Fain was in a relationship with the victim for approximately two years, until the relationship ended in August 2021. Soon after, in September 2021 and continuing through December 2021, Fain sent the victim multiple private messages through email and social media threatening to kill the victim and members of her family.


Fain created multiple social media and email accounts which he used to harass and threaten the victim anonymously. Specifically, Fain used anonymous Instagram and Facebook accounts to send the victim messages that said, among other things, “I’ll kill you” and “You gonna get yours if it’s the last thing I do.” Fain also used anonymous email addresses to send the victim threatening messages that said, among other things, “I’m gonna find you and kill you if it’s the last thing I do,” “By now you know I don’t give a f*** about my own life so I really don’t mind taking yours,” and “When the time is right you gonna be one of the girls going missing. Ima torture the f*** out of you when I catch you.”

The charge of stalking by electronic means provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transmitting threats through interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division provided valuable assistance in the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gotlob of Rollins Major Crimes Division is prosecuting the case.

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