A federal criminal complaint has been unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, charging a California man as part of an ongoing investigation into numerous obscene and threatening phone calls made to women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other states. This was announced by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Justin Glauthier, aged 30, was arrested at his Anaheim home on Wednesday. He faces charges of cyberstalking, interstate threats to injure, and making interstate obscene or harassing calls.
Authorities allege that Glauthier repeatedly called and harassed women after obtaining their names, photographs, and other personal information from the Internet. At least nine women have been identified as recipients of these harassing calls. The FBI's investigation suggests that Glauthier made sexually explicit comments during dozens of calls and sometimes threatened his victims if they did not comply with him. In some cases, he allegedly claimed to know where the victims lived or worked and threatened to visit them unannounced.
Glauthier's arrest involved agents from the FBI’s Providence and Orange County Resident Agencies. He is scheduled for an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Santa Ana, California.
It is important to note that a federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton, with support from Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo in the District of Central California.
The FBI conducted the investigation with significant assistance from the Lincoln Police Department in Rhode Island.
