Scott Robert Tardy, a 31-year-old from Holyoke, Massachusetts, has admitted guilt to charges of cyberstalking, making false statements to the FBI, and obstructing justice. These charges are connected to a scheme targeting a federal law enforcement agent in South Carolina and the agent's family.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Tardy used the username "connecticut12345" on Kik, where he joined an anti-law enforcement chat group. In this group, he posted messages soliciting violence against a specific agent and the agent's spouse. Tardy identified the victims' employment as a reason for targeting them and shared photos of the agent’s spouse along with their city and state.
Tardy discussed acts of violence against the family, including throwing a Molotov cocktail into their bedroom while they slept. He suggested moving conversations to Telegram for increased security under the username "slimybanana." On Telegram, Tardy mentioned what actions a cartel might take against the victims and discussed having one victim “ruined,” “destroyed,” and “tortured for days.” He stated that burning their house was sufficient if they were inside. Additionally, he shared a map pinpointing the victims’ street location.
Upon executing a search warrant at Tardy’s apartment on February 16th, he falsely denied using Kik or Telegram and disavowed responsibility for his solicitations. He also misled investigators by resetting his phone and exchanging it with Apple for another device. Despite these efforts, investigators retrieved evidence linking him to both accounts.
During this time, Tardy worked as a corrections officer in Connecticut. The potential penalty includes up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000, and five years of supervision post-imprisonment.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted Tardy’s guilty plea. Sentencing will occur after reviewing a report from the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI Columbia field office led the investigation with support from its Boston counterpart. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein are handling prosecution duties.
