A Las Vegas man has been indicted on charges of cyberstalking and sending threatening messages via Instagram. The defendant, identified as 38-year-old Brian Patrick Solomon, allegedly targeted two University of Texas at Austin employees with thousands of messages from June to September of this year, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to the indictment, reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Solomon's campaign of harassment included threats to injure the individuals. In an alarming turn, the suspect also requested $450 from one of the victims through CashApp. Subsequent records revealed Solomon's criminal history, including arrests for burglary and stalking, and notably, a previous protection order was entered against him.
The situation escalated further when one of the victims attended the ESPYs and had a speaking engagement. Solomon communicated that he had bought a ticket to the event, raising security concerns that prompted the victim to privately secure additional protection after organizers revoked Solomon's ticket, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In a turn that brought a temporary close to the frightening series of events, the FBI arrested Solomon on September 16, after which he admitted to sending harassing messages and having flown to Austin in an attempt to approach the victim. Despite a Miranda warning, Solomon acknowledged his use of multiple Instagram accounts in his attempts to contact the victim. Subsequent to his confession, a jury trial has been set for December 17, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.
Solomon could face up to five years in prison if convicted of the charges of interstate communications with threat to injure and cyberstalking. The case, led by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Strange, underscores ongoing concerns over the misuse of social media platforms to perpetrate harassment and threats. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson and FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans announced the charges, signaling federal authorities' commitment to addressing such cyber threats, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office. It is, however, vital to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
