Libya Native Convicted by a Federal Jury

Rochester, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury has convicted Akram Marseet, 42, a native of Libya living in Golden, Colorodo, with threatening to murder two Rochester Federal judges while they were engaged in the performance of their official duties. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

“Today’s verdict reinforces a fundamental principle: threats against members of our judiciary will never be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Judges deserve to carry out their work free from intimidation and threats of violence.”

According to testimony presented by the Government, Marseet was the plaintiff in a civil case in United States District Court for the Western District of New York. In January 2024, a federal judge dismissed Marseet’s case.

On January 10, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service received a report that a direct threat was conveyed via a telephone call to the Clerks’ Office for the Western District of New York and included individuals protected by the Marshals Service. The caller identified himself as Akram Marseet, who stated a pending case number and began to discuss the details of his civil case. The clerk who took the call had spoken to Marseet several times in the past and recognized his voice. Prior to the phone call, Marseet also visited the clerk’s office on multiple occasions.

Marseet became very agitated during the phone conversation because his case was dismissed. He made several statements regarding two judges as being “dirty sons of (expletive)” and criminals. Marseet stated, “If I ever come across any of you, you will be dead sons of (expletive).”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everardo A. Rodriguez and Katelyn M. Hartford. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2027, before Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes of the Northern District of New York, who presided over the trial of the case.