73-Year-Old South Florida Man Sentenced To Prison for Threatening Congressperson and Family

Fort Lauderdale Federal Court BuildingPhoto byOCMM

Fort Lauderdale, FL – In a case that has drawn noteworthy attention, Michael Shapiro, a 73-year-old resident of Greenacres, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for leaving a series of threatening voicemail messages aimed at a U.S. Congress member and their children. The sentencing occurred in a Fort Lauderdale courtroom on August 7, 2024.

Incident Details
The threats were made in December 2023, when Shapiro called a U.S. Congressional Office in Washington, D.C., from his home in Greenacres. Over the course of these calls, Shapiro left five voicemails, three of which contained explicit threats to the lives of the Congressperson and their children. In one of the messages, Shapiro stated, "I'm gonna come after you and kill you [expletive]," and in another, he threatened, "I'm gonna come and kill your children, you mother- [expletive]. I'm gonna kill your children".

Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Shapiro was arrested at his home on January 3, 2024, following an investigation by federal authorities. He was charged with transmitting threatening communications and pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto prosecuted the case, with U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz presiding over the sentencing.

Sentencing and Reactions
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Leibowitz emphasized the threats' seriousness and their impact on the Congressperson and their family. Shapiro was sentenced to 24 months in prison, a term that reflects the gravity of his actions and serves as a deterrent to others who might consider making similar threats.

Markenzy Lapointe United States Attorney Southern District of FloridaPhoto byhttps://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/meet-us-attorney

Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and J. Thomas Manger, the Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, both expressed their commitment to protecting public officials and ensuring that threats against them are met with swift and severe consequences.

Community Impact
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by public officials and their families, who often become targets of threats and harassment. It also underscores the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to address such threats and protect those who serve in public office.

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Research and source materials:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/73-year-old-greenacres-man-sentenced-2-years-prison-threatening-kill-member-congress

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/florida-eric-swalwell-death-threat-arrest-b2473160.html