Man Sentenced for Deadly Threats Against Congressman and Family

Greenacres, FL - A 73-year-old South Florida resident has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for leaving threatening voicemail messages directed at a U.S. congress member and his children.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge David S. Leibowitz during a hearing in Fort Lauderdale.

Prosecutors say Michael Shapiro had previously pleaded guilty to charges of transmitting threatening communications in May.

The charges stemmed from a series of five voicemail messages Shapiro left U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell on December 19th, 2023, at a congressional office in Washington, D.C.

In three of the messages, Shapiro threatened to kill the Congressman and their children, using profane and aggressive language.

Following an investigation by U.S. Capitol Police, Shapiro was arrested on January 3rd at his home in Greenacres.

Shapiro will serve his 24-month sentence in federal prison, though details regarding his post-incarceration conditions have not been released.