U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo on Tuesday announced that 40‑year‑old Jennifer Curran of Dansville has been arrested and charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The charge is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Harvey, investigators began looking into Curran after several threats were posted online on December 4, including threats to kill the President, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and to carry out a mass shooting. The messages were posted on the social media platform GETTR under the username @Word_Smith, which investigators later traced back to Curran.
The next day, FBI agents and New York State Police went to Curran’s home. Officers say she answered the door holding a hammer and admitted posting the threats, telling investigators she was “very upset” and wanted to “hurt” certain social workers and police officers. She also allegedly claimed she could “post whatever she wants” while waving the hammer in a threatening way.
According to the complaint, Curran told officers she would kill someone on her property “to get her point across” and refused to drop the hammer, warning investigators to “get away from me before I assault you.” She was then taken into custody.
“The safety and protection of law enforcement, at every level, is paramount to law enforcement being able to do their jobs and protecting our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Any individual who threatens to commit violence against any member of law enforcement will be held accountable for their actions.”
“When someone chooses violence instead of compliance, it risks the safety of those who serve and protect our communities,” Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office stated. “The FBI appreciates the extraordinary vigilance of our agents and swift coordination with our law enforcement partners.”
The case is ongoing.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
