ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal grand jury has indicted a 58-year-old Orlando man accused of making violent online threats against the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Salvatore Russotto was charged with making threats to injure and kill a federal official and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat. The indictment was unsealed Friday.
According to court documents, Russotto made the threats on May 19, 2025, using an online account registered to him. Among the messages cited in the indictment were statements including “A slow painful death for HABBA,” and “Death penalty for all traitors,” which prosecutors say constitute true threats of violence.
Russotto faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted
If convicted on both counts, Russotto faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The indictment emphasizes that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Newark and Tampa Field Offices along with the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Kara Wick is prosecuting the case.
Authorities allege Russotto made credible threats online targeting a federal prosecutor, prompting federal charges.