John B. Hart, a 54-year-old man from Louisville, Colorado, has been sentenced to 97 months (over 8 years) in federal prison for a relentless cyberstalking campaign against his ex-girlfriend and two men connected to her. Hart also faces 3 years of supervised release following his prison term.
From May to August 2022, while living in Hawaii, Hart used fake identities and burner apps to harass and intimidate his victims. He posed as one of the men to further torment the others.
His actions included sending threatening and derogatory messages, creating fake dating profiles for his ex-girlfriend, and even vandalizing her car. He also falsely reported his victims to law enforcement, attempting to frame one of the men.
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Hart pleaded guilty to three counts of cyberstalking and one count of obstruction of justice for deleting evidence after being questioned by federal agents.
During sentencing, the judge emphasized the severity of Hart’s crimes, highlighting the “incalculable harm” he inflicted and the “tremendous” impact on the victims. She also noted the extensive deception involved and his attempt to incriminate an innocent person.
United States Attorney Clare E. Connors stated that the sentence delivers justice for Hart’s victims and serves as a warning to others who might use the internet for harassment. FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill echoed this sentiment, stressing the FBI’s commitment to combatting cyberstalking.
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The FBI investigated the case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara D. Ayabe and Aislinn Affinito for the District of Hawaii, along with Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky.
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