Alpharetta Man Pleads Guilty To Cyberstalking Amid Wisconsin Protests

ALPHARETTA, GA — An Alpharetta man has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking after authorities said he sent death threats to government officials in Wisconsin during protests there.

U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling said Wednesday that Minjie Cao, 27, of Alpharetta pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking in violation of federal law.

The charges relate to death threats that Cao sent to Kenosha government officials in August 2020 during the protests and unrest in Kenosha, Frohling said.

As detailed in court documents, between Aug. 27-29, 2020, Cao emailed death threats to three Kenosha government officials. Cao also made several phone calls to their offices for the purpose of causing them distress during the unrest in Kenosha, Frohling said.

The cyberstalking count carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for Oct. 19 before U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller.