Thousand Oaks Man Sentenced for Threatening Congressman and His Family
A Los Angeles-area man has been sentenced for his threats to kill United States Congressman Matthew Gaetz and his family. The U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released the July 28th decision which was handed down in Pensacola, Florida.
Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that Eugene Huelsman (59) of Thousand Oaks, CA, was sentenced to six months home confinement on one count of transmission of a threat in interstate commerce. “The free exercise of speech is central to our democracy – however, the communication of threats of physical violence, in this case by an individual who had previously made and been investigated for similar threats of violence, is clearly unlawful.”
The United States Capitol Police were immediately contacted upon receipt of the following 01/09/2021 telephonic threats to United States Congressman Matthew Gaetz’s congressional district office in Pensacola, Florida. The DOJ described Huelsman’s “profanity-laced voicemail threatening to kill the Congressman, “put a bullet in” Congressman Gaetz and members of his family, “coming for” the Congressman, and that he hoped the Congressman would “die in a shallow grave.”
Investigation by U.S. Capitol Police, for security protocols triggered by these threats, revealed that Huelsman had been been investigated by the United States Secret Service for threatening a member of a former President’s family on social media. The case was investigated by both the United States Capitol Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
“Words matter,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division, “and this sentencing should serve as a warning. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, but when you harass, intimidate, and threaten violence against others, it’s a federal crime that will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will work to hold you accountable.”
Huelsman’s six months of home confinement will be followed by five years’ probation, and a $10,000 fine.
