Tamarac Resident Pleads Guilty to Making Multiple Threats to Congress

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Steven A. Sund, Acting Chief of Police, U.S. Capitol Police, announced today that John Joseph Kless, 49, of Tamarac, Florida, plead guilty to one count of Making Threatening Communications in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c). 

At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing has been scheduled for August 20, 2019 at 1:15 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Case No. 19CR60109).

According to court documents, on April 16, 2019, John Kless made multiple threatening communications to Congressional office members from California, Michigan, and New Jersey.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc S. Anton.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.