Troy Man Charged with Threatening Police Over Facebook

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jahjuan Sabb, age 20, of Troy, New York, was arrested on Saturday and charged with threatening to attack the Troy Police Department during a demonstration that took place yesterday, June 7. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Sabb is charged by criminal complaint with making threats to injure another person, and also with distributing information pertaining to the manufacture of an explosive or destructive device with the intent that the information be used for, or in furtherance of, a crime of violence. 

The complaint alleges that on June 5, Sabb made Facebook Live recordings in which he threatened to throw bricks at the Troy Police Department, Troy Police vehicles, and Troy City Hall, during a demonstration that took place yesterday in downtown Troy.  The complaint alleges that he also offered instructions on how to make firebombs with the intent that they be used during the demonstration.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Sabb, who was arrested Saturday, appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing on June 10.

If convicted on the charges set forth in the complaint, he faces up to 20 years in prison.   A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Troy Police Department and New York State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.