By Steve Neavling
A self-proclaimed white supremacist pleaded guilty Tuesday to threatening jurors and witnesses in the Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting trial.
Hardy Carroll Lloyd, 45, of West Virginia, now faces 78 months in prison as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Lloyd admitted he made online threats to jurors and witnesses in the federal hate crimes trial of Robert Bowers, who killed 11 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
In the plea deal, Lloyd pleaded guilty to obstruction of the due administration of justice and admitted he was motivated by the actual or perceived Jewish faith of the witnesses and victims.
Lloyd was arrested on Aug. 10 after making threatening social media posts and emails during Bowers’ trial.
“Hardy Lloyd attempted to obstruct the federal hate crimes trial of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement. “His guilty plea underscores that anyone who attempts to obstruct a federal trial by threatening or intimidating jurors or witnesses will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray said Lloyd’s actions were deplorable.
“It is absolutely reprehensible that the defendant threatened witnesses and jurors in the Tree of Life case, a tragedy that claimed innocent lives and emotionally scarred many in the Jewish community,” Wray said. “The FBI will not tolerate the intimidation of citizens participating in our criminal justice system, and we will work with our partners to hold legally accountable anyone who threatens or carries out acts of violence against them.”
