Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Ronald DeRisi was sentenced by United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco to 18 months’ imprisonment for threatening to assault and kill two sitting United States Senators in retaliation for their support of the nomination and confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.  As part of his sentence, DeRisi was ordered to forfeit two firearms to the United States.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Acting Chief Steven Sund, United States Capitol Police, announced the sentence.

“Our political process allows for vigorous debate, but not destruction.  Threatening to harm or kill elected officials because one disagrees with their public positions goes far beyond the scope of the First Amendment and will not be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “We will not allow individuals to influence political decision-making through criminal threats.”  Mr. Donoghue thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Suffolk County Police Department for their assistance in the case.    

“I also want to thank our USCP investigators, and all of our partners in successfully investigating and prosecuting this case,” said Acting Capitol Police Chief Sund.

In September and October of 2018, DeRisi telephoned and left approximately 12 anonymous, threatening voice-messages at the offices of two United States Senators, both of whom were publicly supporting the nomination and confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.  DeRisi’s threats, which were made both before and after Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation, included threatening to shoot one of the Senators in the head with a 9mm firearm.  When DeRisi was arrested on October 19, 2018, members of law enforcement recovered live 9mm ammunition during the execution of a search warrant at his residence.     

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Justina L. Geraci is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

Ronald DeRisi

Age: 75

Smithtown, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-090 (JFB)

 

 

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Ronald DeRisi pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco to threatening to assault and murder United States senators in retaliation for their support of the nomination and confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.  When sentenced, DeRisi faces up to 10 years in prison.  As part of his plea agreement with the government, DeRisi will forfeit two rifles to the United States.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matthew R. Verderosa, Chief of Police, United States Capitol Police, announced the guilty plea.

“This defendant threatened to assault and murder two sitting United States senators in an effort to intimidate them and interfere with their performance of official duties,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “Ours is a system of laws – not threats – and the Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute those who seek to undermine the integrity of our constitutional system through violence.”  Mr. Donoghue extended his grateful appreciation to the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Suffolk County Police Department for their investigative work and assistance in the case. 

 “The mission of the United States Capitol Police is to protect the Congress, the U.S. Capitol, and all who work and visit here. I want to thank our investigators for their excellent work as well as our law enforcement partners and Mr. Donoghue and his staff for bringing this investigation and trial to this satisfactory conclusion,” stated U.S. Capitol Police Chief Verderosa.

In September and October of 2018, DeRisi telephoned and left more than 10 threatening voice-messages at the offices of two United States senators in connection with the nomination and confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.  When DeRisi was arrested on October 19, 2018, members of law enforcement recovered the prepaid cellular telephone that had been used to make the threatening calls, as well as live ammunition during the execution of a search warrant. 

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Justina L. Geraci is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

Ronald DeRisi

Age: 74

Smithtown, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-090 (JFB)

A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in the Eastern District of New York charging Ronald DeRisi with threatening to murder and assault two United States Senators in retaliation for their support of the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.  DeRisi was arrested earlier today in Smithtown, Long Island, and his initial appearance is scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown at the United States Courthouse, 100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, New York.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matthew R. Verderosa, Chief, United States Capitol Police (USCP), announced the charges.

“Representative democracy cannot work if elected officials are threatened with death for simply doing their job,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “The First Amendment - the pinnacle of American achievement - protects debate, disagreement and dissent, not death threats.  We and all those dedicated to the rule of law will not tolerate the use violence and threats of violence in attempts to prevail in political disputes.”  Mr. Donoghue extended his grateful appreciation to the United States Capitol Police, the agency responsible for leading the investigation. 

“I greatly appreciate the hard work of our investigators for addressing these threats so quickly, and that of the U.S. Attorney’s staff for prosecuting this case,” stated USCP Chief Verderosa.

As alleged in the complaint, beginning on September 27, 2018, DeRisi left more than 10 threatening voice-messages at the offices of two United States Senators (identified in the complaint as Senator-1 and Senator-2) regarding the nomination and confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh to the high court.  The threats in the voice-messages were apparently made to discourage Senator-1 and Senator-2 from supporting Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and/or as retaliation for having voted to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.  The complaint details the content of some of the expletive-laced recorded voice-messages. 

For example, in the first of two voice-messages left for Senator-1 on September 27, 2018, DeRisi said that he had a “present” for Senator-1, stating, in part, “It’s a nine millimeter.  Side of your … skull ….”  DeRisi concluded with “Yeah, Kavanaugh – I don’t think so.”

In a voice-message left for Senator-2 on October 6, 2018, DeRisi stated, in part, “… you better pray this guy don’t get in….”  Less than an hour and a half later, DeRisi called Senator-2 again and left a message stating, in part, “I’m gonna get you.”

According to the complaint, DeRisi was identified through telephone records as well as by voice exemplars. 

Following DeRisi’s arrest, USCP executed a search warrant and seized the cellular telephone used to leave the voice-messages detailed in the complaint.

The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Justina L. Geraci is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

RONALD DERISI

Age: 74

Smithtown, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-MJ-998