A Queens, NY man has been handed a 13-month sentence behind bars following a cascade of over 12,000 harassing phone calls to various Members of Congress, a sentence delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly. Ade Salim Lilly, 35, contended with the law on counts of interstate communications with intent to kidnap or injure and making repeated harassing telephone calls, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The ordeal began around February 1, 2022, concluding with Lilly's arrest in Puerto Rico on November 8, 2023. Congressional staffers, often on the front line, endured the brunt of Lilly's wrath, which encapsulated threats ranging from death to grievous bodily harm. Arrested by U.S. Capitol Police, whose job often involves protecting the physical safety of congressional members, had informed Lilly his calls broke the law due to their harassing nature, and yet they persisted.
Lilly structured his campaign to evade detection, masking his caller ID to ensure his calls wouldn't go unanswered. His efforts culminated in a phone call on October 21, 2022, when he told a Congressional staffer, "I will kill you, I am going to run you over, I will kill you with a bomb or grenade," the U.S. Attorney's Office recounted.
Several agencies, including the U.S. Capitol Police and the United States Marshall’s Service, combined their efforts leading to Lilly's indictment and subsequent apprehension in Puerto Rico. Prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander R. Schneider and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Nielsen, Lilly now faces a future with 36 months of supervised release following his prison term, Judge Kelly mandated.
