Shayla Addison, 28, of Indianapolis, was sentenced on July 21 to 27 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of influencing a federal official by threat.
According to court documents, Addison sent five threatening text messages on January 15, 2025, to the campaign phone number of a member of the United States House of Representatives. The messages included explicit threats such as “Come outside b**** we’ll kill you” and “Tread lightly.” Minutes later, she sent additional threatening emails and posted similar comments on the representative’s Instagram account. The communications included statements like: “We will kill you and blow that whole building up b**** come outside,” “Shut up h** I’ll kill you,” and “I hope you got mace… cause you gone need it.”
Authorities said Addison intended these messages as retaliation against the official for their performance of duties. Court records indicate that Addison has a history of making threats. In September 2019, she repeatedly called a Firehouse Subs restaurant in Hendricks County where her ex-boyfriend worked, threatening violence after learning he was expecting a child with his new partner. She continued these calls into the next day with further threats via text message. In December 2019, she made more than fifty calls in one day to the same restaurant. In September 2023, police responded when Addison threatened to burn down her mother’s apartment and was found with an open gas can in her car.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Indianapolis and United States Capitol Police investigated this case. U.S. Chief District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II imposed the sentence.
“Threats of political violence regardless of where they come from, or who is targeted, are unacceptable and constitute a serious federal crime,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Targeting the safety of elected officials undermines their ability to freely serve the American people. Our office, along with our federal partners, will remain steadfast in putting a stop to these threats before they can come to fruition,” said Wheeler. FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley said: “Threats of violence against elected officials are serious federal crimes that will not be tolerated… We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible are held accountable.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Olivier prosecuted this case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana serves as chief federal law enforcement officer under the Department of Justice; prosecutes federal crimes; defends court proceedings; collaborates with law enforcement agencies at all levels; oversees operations across sixty southern counties divided into four divisions; and maintains offices in both Indianapolis headquarters and Evansville satellite location, according to the official website.