A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to threatening a Massachusetts woman and cyberstalking, the U.S. Justice Department said in a recent press release.
Marshall Nicholas Fain, 31, of New Haven, Conn., entered a guilty plea in federal court in Boston to one count of cyberstalking and one count of transmitting threats through interstate commerce, the release said. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley set the sentencing date for Dec. 21. The charges against Fain were filed on Feb. 2 of this year.
"The victim in this case did not let fear silence her," Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in the release. "She courageously came forward and worked with the FBI to help bring Mr. Fain’s campaign of torment to an end. Words can and do lead to violence, and the FBI would like to take this opportunity to urge victims of online threats to report the crime because we will not hesitate to investigate these cowardly acts.”
U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins also commented on the seriousness of the crime.
“People deserve to end relationships without fear,” she said in the release. “Too often, women are the targets threatening, controlling and/or violent behavior. In response to the end of his two-year relationship with the victim, Mr. Fain terrorized her for several months, making her fear for her life and the lives of her family. In the face of aggressively disturbing and intimidating threats this woman bravely notified federal authorities of Mr. Fain’s abusive behavior. Thanks to this woman’s enormous strength and courage, Mr. Fain must now answer for the fear and pain he caused.
“Threats of violence, regardless of whether they’re made in person or sent from behind a keyboard, are illegal and will not be tolerated by my office. Stalking and threatening others online are serious crimes that deeply impact victims’ mental, emotional and physical welfare. The internet does not offer you anonymity – perpetrators will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable.”
