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Press Release

Warminster Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years For Cyber Threats Directed at Estranged Wife

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Blair Strouse, 29, of Warminster, PA, was sentenced today to 30 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Petrese Tucker for charges related to cyberstalking his estranged wife.

In February 2015, the defendant began communicating online with a Brazilian citizen living in Brazil, who eventually travelled to the United States to work for a company that provided au pair services to families in the United States.  When the position did not work out, the woman moved to Pennsylvania in August 2016 to be with the defendant, whom she married about one month later.  Shortly thereafter, in November 2016, the defendant began mistreating the woman, and she moved out of their Warminster residence.  In December 2016, the defendant began a relentless campaign to threaten and harass her and her family members who were still living in Brazil.

Over the course of several months, the defendant sent dozens of electronic communications from his home to his wife’s family members and associates – repeatedly threatening to kill and inflict serious injury upon his victims.  He also offered to pay anyone willing to kill or injure his wife’s family members.  Even after a judge in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas issued a protection from abuse order against the defendant in February 2017, he continued to send harassing messages and stated that his purpose in life was to make members of his estranged wife’s family suffer.

“Threats like these made in any manner, whether via electronic communications or otherwise, are taken very seriously by my Office,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “It’s not an excuse to say that you were just mouthing off; if you threaten serious bodily injury or even death over the internet, that is a federal crime with consequences.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Deputy United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

Contact

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

JENNIFER CRANDALL
Media Contact
215-861-8300

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Updated August 1, 2019

Topic
Cybercrime