Kentucky Man Charged for Alleged Threats Toward a 5th Grade Class in Louisiana

Louisiana – On July 5, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Brian Adams, age 22, of Paintsville, Kentucky, was indicted on June 30, 2022, in a federal court in Louisiana, by a federal grand jury for communication of interstate threats to kidnap or injure, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c).

According to the indictment, on or about October 14, 2020, Adams sent a threat to a fifth-grade class at the Laureate Academy Charter School in Harvey, Louisiana. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school was conducting classes virtually via Zoom at the time. Adams is accused of using racial epithets and threats against the students. The grand jury also made a special finding that Adams chose the fifth-grade class as the target of his threat because of the students’ and teachers’ actual and perceived race.

Adams faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to a year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee if convicted of this offense.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey N. Knight and Jonathan L. Shih.