In a recent legal development, Michael David Fox, a 60-year-old Las Cruces resident, has been sentenced to prison for a threatening voicemail he left for a Texas congresswoman. The message, laden with hate speech and violent threats, reflects the disturbing influence of conspiracy theories on certain individuals.

Fox was charged following an incident in May when he left an aggressive and disturbing voicemail for a congresswoman whose district includes Houston. In the message, he misgendered and accused the representative of being a pedophile before threatening to “put a bullet” in her face. The tirade was filled with obscenities and false accusations, reflecting his adherence to the “QAnon” conspiracy theory.

Law enforcement swiftly traced the call back to Fox, confronting him a week later at his home with the recording. Fox admitted to being the caller, leading to his subsequent arrest and charge. He pleaded guilty in September to interstate transmission of threatening communication and received a hate crime sentencing enhancement for targeting the victim based on a false belief that she was transgender.

Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales sentenced Fox to 12 months and one day in prison, coupled with a $4,000 fine. Following his prison term, Fox will undergo three years of supervised release, which includes mandatory mental health treatment and other stipulations. This sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the need to address the underlying hateful ideologies.

Fox’s belief in the QAnon conspiracy, which falsely claims that a cabal of satanists and pedophiles control major states and corporations, demonstrates the dangerous impact such conspiracies can have. These beliefs, rooted in internet posts dating back to 2016, have occasionally spurred followers to commit violent acts. For instance, in 2016, a man fired a weapon in a Washington, D.C., restaurant while investigating unfounded internet rumors.

The case was notably prosecuted in New Mexico by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindy Carpenter and investigated by the Las Cruces branch of the FBI’s Albuquerque field office. The conviction underscores the commitment of federal law enforcement to combat hate crimes and protect communities from the threat of violence fueled by extremist ideologies.

As the sentence is served, it serves as a reminder of the real-world consequences of online conspiracy theories and the importance of combating hate speech and threats of violence. The authorities have made it clear: while individuals are free to believe what they choose, acting on those beliefs with threats or violence is criminal and will be met with strict penalties.

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