New York City Man Sentenced for Harassing Call to Paladino Campaign Headquarters

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Miles J. Fisher, 63, of New York City, who was convicted of making a harassing and threatening telephone call, was sentenced to six months home detention and one year supervised release by Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C Moscati, who handled the case, stated that the defendant placed a call to the “Paladino for the People” campaign headquarters in the Ellicott Square Building on April 13, 2010. According to the person who answered the telephone, Fisher made harassing and threatening statements, including a declaration that the defendant was going to “bomb all of you.” The campaign worker reported the threat to 911, and the Buffalo Police and Fire Departments thereafter ordered that building’s 700 occupants be evacuated.

“This incident required that dozens of first responders be called to the scene and the evacuation of hundreds of people,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Our office takes very seriously such threats which resulted in the disruption of a workday for employees in a number of businesses.”

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.