ROANOKE, Va. – According to the United States Department of Justice Western District of Virginia, a Gainesville resident who threatened to “blow up” Roanoke has been taken into custody on federal charges.
In a federal criminal complaint, charges were brought against 33-year-old Brandon Hayward for transmitting a threat in interstate commerce as well as using a telephone to make a threat to hurt or destroy property by means of fire or explosives.
According to court records, Hayward contacted the Roanoke-based InFirst Federal Credit Union on August 15. The bank branch manager spoke with Hayward and sought to assist him with a recurring charge on his account. Hayward, dissatisfied with the resolution of his complaint, informed the branch manager, “I am going to get you raped… I will get you killed, b***h.” Hayward also told the branch manager “I am going to blow up Roanoke,” and also said, “I don’t give a fu**.
Hayward then said to the branch manager, “You think you’re safe in Roanoke; you’re not.” before saying that he was going to get his shotgun and Google her name.
Hayward did not resist arrest on August 18, according to the department.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service Division of the Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted on behalf of the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen B. Johnson.
