Worcester man to remain in federal custody pending trial in threats case

PHILADELPHIA >> A man accused of emailing threats to and firing gunshots at the Montgomery County Democratic Committee headquarters in Norristown will remain in federal custody pending his trial.

During a detention hearing in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, a judge ordered that Anthony F. Nero, 48, of the 2600 block of Bean Road, Worcester, be detained pending his trial on charges of threatening communications and cyberstalking, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Nero is charged in connection with alleged incidents that occurred between Jan. 8 and Jan. 20 at the Democratic headquarters along East Airy Street in Norristown.

During the hearing, defense lawyer Timothy Woodward sought electronic monitoring and home confinement for Nero pending trial, but prosecutors successfully argued that Nero should remain detained.

Nero originally had been charged by Norristown detectives with terroristic threats, terrorism, firearms not to be carried without a license and recklessly endangering other persons in connection with the alleged incidents. However, Nero was taken into custody by federal agents on March 3 when he showed up at a Norristown courtroom for what was supposed to be his preliminary hearing on the original county charges.

Montgomery County prosecutors withdrew the county charges after federal authorities took possession of the case.

“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant sent a threatening communication and then acted upon those threats – endangering the lives of anyone who might have been in the vicinity,” Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said last Friday while formally announcing the federal charges. “I want to thank our partners in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and all agencies at the federal, state and local levels for their dedicated work investigating this case.”

If convicted of the charges, Nero faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

The investigation of Nero began on Jan. 8, when Norristown police received information that a threatening email, submitted under the name “Silent Majority,” was received the day before at the Democratic Committee headquarters located at 21 E. Airy St., according to the original criminal complaint filed by Norristown detectives.

The email read: “Just wanted to let your offices know that you should probably beef up security. With this stolen election and coup d’etat, violence is the only language you bloodsuckers understand. (Expletive) you and your BLM (expletive) along with ANTIFA. We WILL end this insurrection. Again, TRUMP YOU!! You (expletive) traitors. Random acts of violence are difficult to investigate. Have fun.”

Officials at the Democratic offices told police they didn’t know who submitted the email and “expressed concerns for the safety of the building and employees” in light of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to the criminal complaint.

As the investigation into the source of the email was under way, at 4:38 p.m. Jan. 20, Norristown police responded to the Democratic headquarters after a party official reported arriving there and discovering bullet holes in the front window, according to court documents. Police observed “three bullet holes in the front window of the office” and were able to retrieve two projectiles from a desk that was located inside near the window, according to the previously filed arrest affidavit.

Investigators subsequently determined the projectiles were fired from a .45-caliber handgun.

No one was injured during the shooting and the office reportedly was unoccupied at the time of the gunfire.

With help from the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and county detectives, investigators traced the internet address related to the Jan. 7 email to Nero’s residence and cell phone. A firearms check also revealed that Nero was the owner of a .45-caliber handgun, court papers indicate.

On Feb. 17, detectives, armed with a search warrant, made contact with Nero in the area of the 200 block of West DeKalb Pike. At that time, Nero allegedly told detectives the firearm was located in the cargo area of his 1999 Lexus RX 300 vehicle.

Detectives found a tactical bag in the cargo area and inside located a .45-caliber Springfield Armory 1911-A1 firearm in a brown leather holster, according to court documents. The weapon was found in the “cocked” position, loaded with one round in the chamber and five additional rounds in the magazine, detectives alleged.

During an interview by investigators, Nero admitted to emailing the threatening comment to the Democratic Committee and also admitted to firing his gun into the committee headquarters three times as he drove by the office during the late evening hours, according to the criminal complaint.

Nero stated that he fired the rounds into the building “because I am going through a stressful time in my life losing my family this whole COVID thing shutting down the country the abundant evidence available relating to the theft of the election,” according to the original arrest affidavit.