ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced that Salvatore Lippa II, 57, of Greece, NY, who was convicted of two counts of threatening a United States official, was sentenced to serve six months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge, who handled the case, on January 23, 2020, the defendant called the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Adam Schiff at approximately 8:20 p.m. and left a threatening voicemail message. Lippa threatened to assault and murder Congressman Schiff. Part of the message stated, “I dare you to come to New York, because I will put a bullet in your (expletive) forehead.” The defendant admitted that he made the threatening call because he was upset about impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
On February 4, 2020, Lippa made a similar call to the Albany, New York office of Senator Charles Schumer. The defendant once again left a voicemail message threatening to assault and murder Senator Schumer. The defendant stated: “let me tell you something, somebody wants to assassinate you, I'm going to be the driver.” Lippa admitted that at the time of that call, the Senate was set to vote on the Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump brought by the House of Representatives on the next day, February 5, 2020.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Capitol Police, under the direction of Chief Steven A. Sund, with assistance from the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick D. Phelan, and the United States Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.
