Venezuelan Man Sentenced in Post-Sandy Hook Newtown Threats

The Venezuelan man who admitted to making threatening phone calls to Newtown residents just days after the Sandy Hook shooting was sentenced to 12 months and one day of prison.

Wilfrido Cardenas Hoffmann, 31, of El Hatillo was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael Shea. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his prison term.

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According to court documents Cardenas Hoffman made more than 90 phone calls to about 47 different Newtown residences. He made a variety of threats.

In some threats he claimed he was Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza and he was coming to kill the resident’s family.

Cardenas Hoffmann was charged in May 2013 and was arrested in June 2014 as he came through Miami International Airport while en route to Mexico from Venezuela. He has been detained since his arrest.

“Threatening Newtown residents just two days after their tragedy was inexplicably cruel,” said U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly. “This defendant’s senseless crimes re-victimized a brave yet fragile community that was already suffering a profound loss. Together with the FBI, our office is committed to tracking down individuals who commit such hoax crimes wherever they are, and bringing them to justice.”

The matter was investigated by the FBI and Newtown Police Department.

“With today’s sentence, Mr. Hoffmann has been held accountable for his despicable actions that only served to perpetuate the pain and suffering the families living in Newtown have endured,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick. “I would like to thank the investigators and prosecutors for their commitment to bring Mr. Hoffmann to justice.”