A grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia has indicted Joseph Armand Zimmer, 48, of North Dakota, for allegedly making threats against an employee of the Augusta National Golf Club. The charge against Zimmer is Threats in Interstate Communication, as detailed by Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Zimmer was apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 8, 2025, and appeared in federal court in Nevada on April 9, 2025, for an initial hearing. He will be required to appear in the Southern District of Georgia to answer to the charge.
“Those who make threats against members of our community in violation of federal law will be held accountable, as we continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who seek to intimidate and instill fear in our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons.
The threats allegedly occurred during a phone call made by Zimmer on February 18, 2025, to the Augusta National Golf Club. During this call, he allegedly threatened to "throw [the individual] in a cell and have [her] set on fire," as well as to "blow [her] head off."
If convicted, Zimmer faces up to five years in prison, with no parole available in the federal system.
“The FBI treats threatening communications with the utmost seriousness and will dedicate all available resources to locating and prosecuting those responsible for such actions,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "We trust that this indictment sends a clear message to anyone contemplating making threats, whether genuine or fabricated, through electronic means."
It is important to note that criminal indictments contain only charges, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, while Assistant United States Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes is prosecuting the case.
