Man indicted on federal cyberstalking charge, accused of sending ex thousands of messages
A Scott man accused of terrorizing, stalking and threatening his ex-girlfriend for years was indicted this week on federal cyberstalking charges.
Daniel Marsico, 37, is accused of sending thousands of threatening messages to the woman for years after their June 2020 breakup, as well as creating fake lewd social media profiles in her name, kicking in her door and assaulting other men in her life.
The harassment and stalking continued despite attempts at police intervention and restraining orders, according to the grand jury indictment returned Tuesday and unsealed Thursday.
“I know you’re awake. All your lights are on,” he’s accused of texting her in January 2021. “Is someone over there? A guy?? Tell me now or I’ll find out. I’m coming over if you don’t answer me.”
The 22-page indictment offers a window into incessant calls and texts Mr. Marsico is accused of making — thousands in all, the grand jury alleged.
Over one day in August 2021, he sent her more than 100 messages: “I’m coming over after you get off work too. Understand? Call the police. See how much worse that makes things.” In another string he’s accused of writing: “[Expletive] answer me! I’ll go to your house right now and kick that [expletive] door in.”
The barrages continued for years, according to the indictment.
When the woman threatened to go to police, according to the indictment, Mr. Marsico allegedly responded: “I don’t respect cops or judges. I think they’re a bunch of dumb dogs.”
An analysis of federally prosecuted cyberstalking cases funded by the National Institute of Justice and published by the RAND Corporation last year revealed a rise in such cases between 2014 and 2020. Cases peaked in 2019 with 80 and then fell slightly in 2020. Data for the past three years was not available.
More than 400 federal cyberstalking cases were filed from 2010 through 2020.
The report found the legal system was unprepared to handle the rise in cases, noting that law enforcement “is seldom about to prioritize or allot substantial resources to cyberstalking.” It also cited the difficulty linking digital evidence to suspects as a major hurdle for authorities.
Indeed, according to the indictment, that was something Mr. Marsico was seemingly banking on. In September 2021, he allegedly created a fake Facebook account under the victim’s name that included lewd photos he’d taken without her knowledge during their relationship.
When she said she would report him to law enforcement, he allegedly told her that “While [Facebook] is solid evidence. I could be plastering you all over the place and as long as I keep my mouth shut I can’t be [convicted]. The internet is a sketchy slope.”
Between September 2021 and the end of 2021, he allegedly texted the woman some 1,300 times. He also began threatening and harassing her current significant other, the grand jury alleged. The alleged abuse continued throughout 2022 and 2023, right up until he was taken into custody Wednesday.
Federal law allows for a sentence of 1 to 5 years in prison.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29. Prosecutors are asking that Mr. Marsico be held in custody as the case plays out, calling him a danger to the community.
A stalking charge against Mr. Marsico by Scott police has also been pending since mid-2023. A hearing in domestic violence court is scheduled for next week.