Former Providence VA Employee Charged With Threatening Old Boss

PROVIDENCE, RI — A former employee of the Department of Veteran Affairs in Providence is charged with threatening a federal official, the United States Attorney's Office in Rhode Island said.

Andrew M. Nyamekye, 38, of Centerville, MA, was a former employee of the Veteran Benefits Administration Regional Office (VARO) in Providence.

It's alleged in charging documents that he sent a series of text messages to current and former VBA employees containing threats directed at, among others, the executive director of the Providence VARO.

Nyamekye, who served in the United States Army from 2007 to 2011, was employed at the Providence VARO from 2012 until his termination in March of this year.

He made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Thursday and was released on unsecured bond.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (VA-OIG).

Nyamekye was arrested by VA-OIG agents, with the assistance of the Veteran Affairs Police Service, Federal Protective Service, and the Barnstable Police Department.