ARIZONA
An Ohio man was sentenced Monday to two and a half years in prison for sending death threats to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office during Arizona’s primary and general elections, officials stated.
“If you threaten violence against the public servants who administer our elections, there will be consequences,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The right to vote, which is the cornerstone of our democracy, relies on the ability of election workers and election officials to perform their duties without fearing for their lives.”
According to court documents, between Aug. 2, 2022, and Nov. 15, 2022, Joshua Russell, 46, of Bucyrus, left a series of voicemails threatening the life of an election official with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office (Victim‑1).
The first message, sent on the day of the Arizona primary elections, accused Victim-1 of failing to protect the 2020 election and committing election fraud.
Russell then said, “You’re the enemy of the United States, you’re a traitor to this country, and you better put your sh[inaudible], your [expletive] affairs in order, ’cause your days [inaudible] are extremely numbered. America’s coming for you, and you will pay with your life, you communist [expletive] traitor [expletive].”
Russell left another voicemail for Victim-1 on Sept. 9, 2022. In that message, Russell called Victim-1 a terrorist and a criminal, and then said that “[y]ou have a few short months to see yourself behind bars, or we will see you to the grave. You are a traitor to this nation, and you will suffer the [expletive] consequences.”
“Thorough reporting leads to prompt charging and timely deterrence of those who would disrupt democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona. “Here, a threat reported during the August 2022 primary election was charged before the end of the calendar year. Thanks to the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State for making a detailed initial report, and to the FBI for its efficient and detailed investigation.”
Finally, on Nov. 15, 2022, Russell left a voicemail accusing Victim-1 of committing crimes against America and once again threatened Victim-1’s life. In relevant part, Russell said, “[w]e will not wait for you to be drugged through court. A war is coming for you. The entire nation is coming for you. And we will stop, at no end, until you are in the ground. You’re a traitor to this nation. You’re a [expletive] piece of [expletive] communist, and you just signed your own death warrant. Get your affairs in order, cause, your days are very short.”
Russell pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of making a threatening interstate communication.
The FBI Phoenix Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Boston Field Office.
Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.