Reva, Virginia Man Sentenced On Stalking Charges

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – A 61-year-old former employee of the Library of Congress, who pled guilty in August to charges involving stalking and identification fraud, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Kenneth Edward Kuban, 61, of Reva, Va., was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison.  Kuban previously pled guilty to one count of stalking in violation of a protective order, one count of identification fraud and one count of violating a protective order within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

“Mr. Kuban used his government computer and the internet to harass and intimidate the victim in this case,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “While the actions of Mr. Kuban caused the victim months of emotional trauma, they could have resulted in much more serious harm. Fortunately, law enforcement acted swiftly and put an end to Mr. Kuban’s horrific behavior before it resulted in violence. This case shows both the dangerous potential of web portals like the one Mr. Kuban used to stalk his victim, and our commitment to vigorously pursue actual or threatened violence against women in whatever form it takes.”

Kuban has admitted to posing online as the victim, an ex-girlfriend, and using the website Craigslist to post advertisements and lure third parties to the victim’s home in anticipation of having direct contact with the victim for the purpose of having sexual encounters. The defendant admitted to posting more than 165 advertisements on the website between January and March of 2013. Many of the advertisements contained the victim’s address and/or a photograph. Fifty-four of those advertisements were posted from Kuban’s personal computer. One-hundred and eleven of the ads were placed from Kuban’s government-issued computer at the Library of Congress.

As a result of the advertisements, more than 100 men appeared at or around the victim’s home between January and March 2013 seeking sexual encounters with her. In one instance, a man arrived at the victim’s home with a crowbar in order to pry open an electronic gate the victim had installed to protect herself. The man brought the crowbar at the urging of Kuban, who communicated with him while posing as the victim.

The threat to the victim’s safety became so great that local law enforcement felt it necessary to post deputies at her home in order to deter trespassing and harassment.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Library of Congress-Office of the Inspector General.  United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy, Assistant United States Attorney Ronald Huber and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Beaton are prosecuting the case for the United States.