Sources: New Jersey Patch; Justice.gov
A former New Jersey investment bank employee was charged Wednesday for cyberstalking former bank colleagues after he was terminated from his job, federal officials said.
Gawargyous “George” Shind, 31, of Jersey City is charged with cyberstalking, including threatening at least four female victims with bodily injury and death between U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Shind “engaged in a pattern of harassment” through text messages and computing services platforms to threaten the victims, who were employees of the same bank, Sellinger added.
From April 2020 to November 2021, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Shind engaged in a pattern of harassment directed towards at least four female victims by employing means of electronic communications, including text messages and computing services platforms, to threaten grievous bodily injury and death.
Shind began a campaign of cyberstalking multiple victims after his termination from a bank where he and the victims were employed. Shind sent messages stating his intention to kill the victims and their families and referred to himself as a “predator.”
The charge of cyberstalking is punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in both the Newark and New York field offices, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy of the Newark field office, and Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the New York field office, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry O’Connell of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.