Man Who Sent Death Threats To GA Officials Over Election Sentenced

GEORGIA — A Texas man convicted of threatening several Georgia public officials in online messages post-2020 election was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

DOJ officials said Chad Christopher Stark, 55, of Leander, Texas, made death threats online on or around Jan. 5, 2021.

“Threats of violence against those who administer our elections are dangerous for people’s personal safety, and they are dangerous for our democracy,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in the release. “This sentence should serve as warning — illegal threats against the public servants who make our democracy work will be met with the full force of the justice department.”

According to the DOJ, Stark said on Craigslist, “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000.”

The DOJ said Stark called the officials "lawless treasonous traitors."

Stark was accused of threatening local and federal judges in an effort to "take back our country by force." According to the DOJ, he went on to say the officials needed to be "exterminated."

"We’re going to make examples of traitors to our country … death to you and all you communist friends," Stark said, according to the DOJ.

Keri Farley, special agent in charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office, said death threats are not protected speech.

“The sentencing of Stark is a warning to all that those who attempt to undermine American democracy will be held criminally accountable,” Farley said in the release.