West Virginia man ordered detained following federal indictment

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Follansbee, West Virginia, man has been ordered detained following his indictment on charges related to a federal hate crimes trial in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Hardy Carroll Lloyd, age 45, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone this morning for an arraignment and detention hearing. Judge Mazzone heard testimony about Lloyd’s alleged criminal conduct, which included online threats about the federal hate crimes trial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, of Robert Bowers, the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooter.

Lloyd was indicted yesterday on charges of obstruction of the due administration of justice, transmitting threats in interstate and foreign commerce, and witness tampering. According to court documents, Lloyd, a self-proclaimed “reverend” of a white supremacy movement, made threatening social media posts, website comments, and emails towards the jury and witnesses during the trial. Lloyd also placed or had others place stickers in predominantly Jewish areas of Pittsburgh, directing people to the website containing his threats and antisemitic messages.

Lloyd’s trial is scheduled for October 31, 2023, before U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey. Lloyd, who was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, faces up to 10 years in prison for the obstruction charge, up to five years for the threats charge, and up to 20 in prison for the tampering charge. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph Bernard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.