June 10, 2020
From The U.S. Attorneys Office:
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jonathan Kemp, 21, of Wellsville, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interstate communication threatening to injure a person. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in November 2018, an individual (Victim) told the New York State Police that the defendant had previously physically assaulted the Victim on many different occasions. On one occasion, Kemp allegedly choked and threatened the Victim with a pocket knife if the Victim didn’t shut up. The victim stated that Kemp asked “if I wanted him to kill me.” The victim also stated that Kemp began sending threatening text messages on the morning of November 5, 2018. One message stated: “I WILL ACTUALLY KILL YOU.”
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was released on conditions.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
