BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael F. Hanley, 49, of Clearwater, Florida, pleaded guilty, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, to threatening a federal employee. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and $100,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was formerly employed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a Veterans Claims Examiner. During his tenure at the VA, Hanley became acquainted with another VA employee (Victim), and the two had a history of contentious interactions.
The defendant left a series of similar voicemails on the Victim’s phone between Oct. 15, 2018, and Nov. 13, 2019, in which he threatened to kill the Victim and the Victim’s family.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Algieri.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Roemer. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
