09/17/2009

News / Bronx Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison For International Stalking, Harassment, and Witness Tampering

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced that JOSEPH JORDAN, a/k/a "Patrick Jordan," a/k/a "Joe Jordan," a/k/a "Douglas Fidler," a/k/a "Joseph Landa," a/k/a "Jason Kaufman," a/k/a "Matthew McGlasson," was sentenced today by United States District Judge DENISE L. COTE in Manhattan federal court to 40 years in prison for a series of federal crimes related to his stalking, harassment, and witness tampering.

According to the Indictment, the evidence presented at trial, and statements made during the sentencing proceeding:

In 2007, JORDAN met a woman ("Victim-1") at a bar in Manhattan. After they became romantically involved, JORDAN began to abuse her physically, sexually, and emotionally. In December 2007, Victim-1 escaped from the defendant in fear for her life. She traveled to a relative's home in Virginia, where JORDAN began stalking her, threatening to kill or injure members of her family and other individuals close to her. JORDAN also harassed Victim- 1, as well as her family and loved ones, through false and malicious internet postings. JORDAN's campaign of harassment forced Victim-1 to flee from the United States to the United Kingdom.

JORDAN's threats and harassment continued after Victim- 1 fled to the United Kingdom. Specifically, JORDAN sent numerous threatening emails, facsimiles, and text messages to Victim-1, another victim ("Victim-2"), and others in which he, among other things, threatened to kill or injure Victim-1 and Victim-2, attack Victim-2's residence and kidnap Victim-1. After a coordinated response from law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the defendant was arrested in Manhattan on January 11, 2008. JORDAN sent numerous letters from prison to Victim-1 and others in an attempt to threaten, corruptly persuade, and mislead Victim-1 and Victim-2 into withholding or altering their trial testimony.

On October 16, 2008, following a two-week jury trial, the defendant was found guilty of all five counts on which he was tried, including: making threatening interstate communications; threatening an internationally-protected person (Victim-2); interstate stalking; and two counts of witness tampering.

In imposing sentence, Judge COTE noted the "great harm to the victims in this case," and the "need for severe punishment." The Judge also recommended that the Bureau of Prisons impose restrictive conditions of confinement to prevent JORDAN from communicating with any of his victims.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the FBI and the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force, which also handles matters involving fugitives and threats. The task force is composed of agents and officers of the FBI, the United States Marshals Service and the New York City Police Department. Mr. BHARARA also thanked the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the London Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and the Northwestern District Attorney's Office of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for their assistance with the apprehension, investigation and prosecution of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney HOWARD S. MASTER is in charge of the prosecution.

Seven charges remain pending against the defendant, including allegedly participating in a scheme to steal individuals' identities using a fraudulent charitable website, and allegedly using those identities to engage in further illegal conduct. Those remaining charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent of those charges unless and until proven guilty.

http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/nyfo091609.htm

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