Jury Finds Oahu Man Guilty of Sending E-Mail Threats to Bomb Buildings

HONOLULU – After a jury trial before United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi, a federal jury today found Oahu resident and former Utah resident Brian Melvin Brandenburg (age 64) guilty of seven counts of sending e-mail threats to bomb buildings in the State of Utah and across the United States. Judge Kobayashi ordered the defendant’s continued detention in custody pending his sentencing, before her on November 9, 2023.

At trial, the evidence as to Counts 1 and 2 showed that on May 4, 2022, while in Hawaii, the defendant sent an e-mail to, among other people, persons identified as Victim 1 and 2 in the indictment, State of Utah Court employees who were within the Courthouse, threating to bomb the 3rd District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both employees were involved with the defendant’s then pending divorce case. According to the evidence presented at trial as to Count 3 – 7, on May 4 and 6, 2022, the defendant sent more e-mails to various recipients in Utah threatening to bomb the Utah State Capitol; Mayor’s Office in the Salt Lake City, Utah; every Ivy League School; the United States Courthouse in San Diego; and Hall Labs and the University of Utah Center for Medical Innovation both in Utah. According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendant told the FBI that he “wanted to get their attention.”

Count 1 carries a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment and Counts 2 – 7 carry a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment for each count. Sentences are imposed based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Provo Police Department, and the University of Utah Police department conducted the investigation that resulted in this conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorneys KeAupuni Akina and Darren W.K. Ching prosecuted the case.