NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey man was convicted by a federal jury today of threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Frank Monte, 51, of New Jersey, was convicted following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court of three counts of threatening a federal law enforcement officer, and of two counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce.
According to documents filed in the case and the evidence at trial:
On July 21, 2019, Monte repeatedly called the emergency line of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Police at the VA Lyons hospital campus. During one of those calls, Monte threatened to “shoot up” a VA Police officer.
On Oct. 15, 2019, Monte called the office of a U.S. Congressman and spoke with a staff member. During that call, Monte threatened that if he ever saw a particular special agent of the U.S. Secret Service in New Jersey, Monte would assault him.
On Oct. 18, 2019, Monte called a special agent of the U.S. Capitol Police. During that call, Monte once again threatened to assault the same special agent of the U.S. Secret Service.
The count of threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer based on the July 2019 threat carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The two counts of threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer based on the October 2019 threats each carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison. The two counts of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce based on the October 2019 threats each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police, VA New Jersey Health Care System, under the direction of Acting Chief Minelli Torres-Sukola; members of the U.S. Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chad Beckett; members of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; and members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, for their assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Torntore and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.