An Olympia man has been handed a 30-month prison sentence for issuing racially motivated threats against a Black federal employee, heralding another instance where the convergence of hate and racism stains the halls of our public institutions. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentencing of 42-year-old Thurston County resident Steven L. Veres, who was charged in July 2023 and pleaded guilty this April to Influencing a Federal Official by Threat. The acts that led to his conviction unfolded at the Olympia Social Security Administration office on February 16, 2023, where an argument over paperwork spiraled into threats and racial invectives.
As reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Veres erupted in fury after a Black employee informed him that he didn't have the necessary documents to obtain a new Social Security card. Veres's tirade included threats of assault and murder, and was laced with racial slurs. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle, imposing the sentence, noted “Your criminal history shows a disrespect for the law.” Veres has a significant criminal history, with convictions spanning motor vehicle theft to methamphetamine possession.
The court, recognizing the racially charged nature of Veres's threats, applied a hate-crimes sentencing enhancement. Prosecutors highlighted Veres's extensive and varied criminal past, which includes a litany of crimes and a record of dodging supervision, with a staggering number of absences and returns to custody. Post-sentence, Veres will remain under federal supervision for an additional three years.
In addition to his federal sentence, Veres faced unrelated state charges for attempting to elude a police officer. Legal coordination led to this charge being dismissed as a part of the plea bargain reached in the federal case. The Federal Protective Service investigated the threats made at the Social Security office. Assistant United States Attorneys Will Dreher and Elyne Vaught prosecuted the case, working in concert with the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department.
