A New York man has been sentenced to prison for making violent threats against congressional staffers, a case highlighting the seriousness of threats against public servants.
At a Glance
- Ade Salim Lilly was sentenced to 13 months in prison for threats made against congressional staffers.
- Lilly pleaded guilty to charges of interstate communications with threats to kidnap or injure, and making repeated threatening calls.
- His sentencing includes three years of supervised release.
- From February 2022 to November 2023, Lilly made over 12,000 harassing calls to congressional offices.
- Prosecutors cited a rising trend of threats against elected officials, stressing the need for strict law enforcement.
Serious Threats from a New York Man
Ade Salim Lilly of Queens, New York, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for making violent threats against congressional staffers. His actions included threatening to kill a staffer and harassing multiple offices with thousands of calls. This sentencing underscores the importance of protecting those whose work enables the legislative process.
Lilly’s harassment included over 12,000 calls from Maryland and Puerto Rico to congressional offices before his arrest in Puerto Rico in November 2023. Among these calls, Lilly used vulgar and harassing language, and on October 21, 2022, he specifically threatened to kill a congressional staffer.
Prosecutors sought an 18-month sentence, emphasizing the increasing threats against elected officials. U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger testified that threats against Congress members had surged by 400% over the past six years.
New York man sentenced to prison after thousands of harassing calls to Congress and threat to kill staffer https://t.co/ywr67Y39Su
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Lilly’s Sentencing and Supervised Release
Lilly was sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to charges of interstate communications with threats to kidnap or injure and making repeated threatening phone calls. During this period, he often used the caller ID-blocking service “*67” to hide his phone number.
“My intent was always to do what’s best for our future generations,” Lilly said during sentencing.
Prosecutors noted the potential risk of normalizing violence through such threats, particularly during election cycles. “This is an election year, and more and more often, criticism of a political position or viewpoint crosses the First Amendment line and leads to true threats of violence,” they said. “The pervasive rise in threats against elected officials creates a real risk that expressions of violence will become normalized.”
Implications for Public Safety
Chief Manger emphasized the importance of rigorous law enforcement against harassment “We will enforce the law anytime someone crosses the line — from free speech to harassment or threats,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said in a statement. “Our investigators worked to build this complicated case for years, which shows their dedication to protect the Members of Congress.”
The case of Ade Salim Lilly underscores the ongoing commitment of the judicial system to safeguard those who play a crucial role in our democracy. The sentence sends a clear message about the seriousness with which such threats are treated, ensuring both the safety of public servants and the integrity of our democratic institutions.
