A federal jury in Greenbelt, Maryland has convicted Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring on one count of cyberstalking. Leidel is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy.
The conviction was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with leaders from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Field Office, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) Mid-Atlantic Region, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Washington D.C. Field Office, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), and Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD).
Court documents and evidence presented at trial showed that Leidel sent multiple emails containing false allegations in an effort to have his ex-wife fired from her job as a special education teacher at a public school. He also sent emails attempting to have his ex-wife and their children evicted from their home and filed repeated false child protective services claims against her.
When his ex-wife began dating another individual, referred to as Victim 2, Leidel filed additional false claims alleging child abuse by Victim 2 and emailed Victim 2’s supervisors with similar accusations in an attempt to prompt investigations and termination from employment. This harassment continued for several years until law enforcement arrested Leidel.
Leidel could face up to five years in federal prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby has scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2026.
Kelly O. Hayes stated: "U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, DOT OIG, NCIS, MCPD, and VBPD." She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Sarma and Ken Clark for prosecuting the case.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
