A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted Edward Arthur Owens Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, on charges of threatening to injure a local public official and making false statements to the FBI. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti made the announcement.
The indictment includes two counts against Owens. It alleges that on May 20, 2025, Owens transmitted a threat via social media directed at a local public official. The message contained antisemitic language, including an assertion about Jews being expelled from "109 countries," which is considered by the Anti-Defamation League as promoting hatred.
Furthermore, the indictment accuses Owens of lying to FBI agents on May 30, 2025. He allegedly claimed his firearms were with his mother and that he had no access to them. However, it was found that he retained custody of a 9mm caliber Smith & Wesson pistol in his vehicle at the time.
Owens remains in custody following his arrest. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is handling the prosecution while the FBI conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
The law emphasizes that an indictment is merely an accusation and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
