Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who handled the
case, stated that on March 21, 2019, at approximately 12:20 p.m., the defendant
placed a telephone call to the offices of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Member of
the United States Congress from the 5th Congressional District in Minnesota, in
Washington, D.C. A member of Congresswoman Omar’s staff answered the call.
During the call, the defendant stated, “Do you work for the Muslim
Brotherhood? Why are you working for
her, she’s a (expletive) terrorist. Somebody ought to put a bullet in her
skull. Back in the day, our forefathers
would have put a bullet in her (expletive).” The staff member recalled that the
defendant stated, “I’ll put a bullet in her (expletive) skull.”
Carlineo made the threatening call to retaliate against
Congresswoman Omar based on her performance of her official duties. Because he hates individuals he views as
radical Muslims being in the United States government, he believed that
Congresswoman Omar supports Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood and that
Congresswoman Omar’s election to the United States Congress was illegitimate.
After receiving the call, the threat was referred to the
United States Capitol Police, Threat Assessment Section, who began an
investigation in coordination with the FBI.
In addition, on April 5, 2019, the defendant – a previously
convicted felon – possessed a loaded .45 caliber handgun, three rifles, two
shotguns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at his residence in Addison,
NY. In 1998, the defendant was convicted
of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree in Steuben County Court. As a result
of that conviction defendant was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Federal
Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary
Loeffert, and the United States Capitol Police, under the direction of Chief
Matthew R. Verderosa.
