A Hinesville resident has been convicted in federal court for making threatening phone calls to the Department of Veterans Affairs in December 2024. Alexis Beatles, 44, was found guilty after a two-day jury trial in U.S. District Court on charges of Interstate Communications with Threats to Injure Another, according to Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The conviction could result in up to 10 years in prison and supervised release after any prison term. Federal sentences do not allow for parole.
Beatles was initially arrested on a criminal complaint in January and later indicted by a federal grand jury. The FBI led the arrest operation with support from Savannah Police Department SWAT and EOD Teams. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on December 18, 2024, Beatles called a Department of Veterans Affairs hotline and made threats against federal employees and others if his demands were not met. The threats included statements about crashing his car into the Savannah VA Clinic, harming U.S. citizens, rigging his home with explosives to harm police officers, and threatening the children of officers attempting to arrest him.
“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 U.S. Attorney Heap.
“VA personnel and the veterans they serve should feel safe while working and receiving care within VA facilities,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG and our law enforcement partners are committed to identifying and stopping threats of terrorism and violence against VA personnel and operations.”
“Threats of violence against federal employees and our communities will never be tolerated,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to protect those who serve the public and to hold accountable anyone who seeks to cause fear and harm through threats.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Savannah Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Darron Hubbard prosecuted the case.
