'I'm Going To Blow Up Roanoke:' Virginia Man Accused Of Threatening Bank Manager

VIRGINIA — A Gainesville man faces federal charges after authorities said he called a credit union and threatened to "blow up Roanoke," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Virginia.

Authorities identified the man as Brandon Hayward, a 33-year-old from Gainesville. He is charged with use of a telephone to make a threat to injure or destroy property by means of fire or explosives and one count of communicating a threat in interstate commerce.

If convicted of all charges, Hayward could face up to 15 years in prison.

On Aug. 15, Hayward called the InFirst Federal Credit Union located in the Poff Federal Building in Roanoke about a recurring charge on his account, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. A branch manager tried to assist him, but he was not pleased with the results.

Hayward told the branch manager ,"I am going to get you raped," federal officials claimed. "I will get you killed."

The U.S. Attorney's office said Hayward's threats didn't stop there.

Hayward added "I am going to blow up Roanoke," authorities claimed. He also told the branch manager he was going to get a shotgun and Google her. "You think you’re safe in Roanoke; you’re not."

Hayward was arrested without incident on Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Court records showed that his next court date is pending the result of a psychiatric examination.