Monmouth County Man Admits To Phoning In Bomb Threats

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — This week, a Monmouth County man admitted in federal court that he made threatening phone calls and emails to New Jersey state officials, judges, police officers and attorneys.

He also admitted to phoning in false bomb threats to a county courthouse, the office of an elected official and called in bomb threats to a police department and two law firms, plus a private business, said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger.

The man is Eric G. Hafner, 31, formerly of Monmouth County. Prosecutors did not say which town he is from, but the Toms River Patch previously reported that he lived in Toms River. Hafner also ran for Congress a few times, without success.

All of his victims were unnamed by federal prosecutors, to protect their privacy.

Between July 2016 and May 2018, while residing outside the United States, Hafner made threats to numerous individuals located in and around Monmouth County and elsewhere, said prosecutors. The victims were elected officials, judges, police officers, attorneys and their families.

Hafner also tried to extort $350,000 from some of his victims, said federal prosecutors.

This case was investigated by the FBI, plus detectives with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Sheriff’s officers, New Jersey State Police and police from the following towns: Bradley Beach, Fairhaven, Aberdeen, Hazlet, Shrewsbury, Red Bank, Freehold, Middletown, Neptune, Oceanport, Deal and Manasquan.

Initial Patch report on Eric Hafner: Toms River Man Charged With Threats To Kill Judges, Police (2019)