A California man pleaded guilty to threatening Merriam-Webster with anti LGBTQ violence, causing the company's headquarters to close in Massachusetts and New York.
According to a Sept. 14 U.S. Department of Justice news release, Jeremy David Hanson, 34, of Rossmoor, Calif., entered a guilty plea to one count of making violent threats against Merriam-Webster employees and a further count of the same charge initially filed in the Eastern District of Texas but directed at the president of the University of North Texas.
“Every member of our community has a right to live and exist authentically as themselves without fear," U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in the release. "Hate-motivated threats of violence that infringe upon that right are not tolerated in Massachusetts in any capacity. This conviction represents my office’s dedication to protecting targeted communities and bringing accountability and justice when those who aim to endanger act upon their hatred.”
Hanson also admitted to sending threatening messages to various businesses, officials and others in a written statement of facts that was included with his plea agreement, including the Walt Disney Company, the governors of California and New York, a rabbi in New York and professors at Loyola Marymount University, the release reported. Hanson further said he often chose the targets of his threatening communications based on gender, gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
“I want to remind people to call the 1-83-END-H8-NOW (1-833-634-8669) line if they have information about concerning or troubling incidents of hate, potential hate crimes or concerns regarding individuals believed to be espousing hate-filled views or threats of actions," Rollins added, according to the release.
FBI agents also praised the conviction of Hanson and advise citizens to be vigilant against hate crimes, the release reported.
"Jeremy Hanson is now a convicted felon after admitting to making hate-fueled threats of violence related to the LGBTQ+ community," Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said in the release. "If you believe you are a victim or a witness to similar conduct, we encourage you to report it to the FBI so we can hold the perpetrators behind these crimes accountable for their actions, like we did in this case.”
