MD Man Texts Threats With KKK Imagery To 2 Black Women: Prosecutor

BALTIMORE, MD — A Baltimore man who texted threatening messages to two women he didn't know — including pictures and symbols used by the Ku Klux Klan — faces up to five years in prison.

David Lee Bradby, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to making interstate threatening communications, related to text messages he sent to a woman living in West Virginia. Bradby and both victims are Black, said a news release from Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

According to his guilty plea, between Feb. 13, 2022, and May 24, 2022, Bradby sent 12 text communications to Victim 1 from six different mobile numbers to which he subscribed. In the text messages, Bradby threatened to kill the victim and to assault her family members.

Neither Bradby nor the victim knew each other, authorities said.

Bradby also said in his plea agreement that in February 2022, he made threats to a second victim, a female who lived in the Baltimore area. In making the threats to Victim 2, Bradby posed as J.M.S. and made virtually the same threats he had to Victim 1. Bradby also threatened to blow up Victim 2’s house, claimed to know where she worked, and included pictures and symbols used by the Ku Klux Klan in his messages to her.

Prosecutors said Bradby admitted he sent the messages to Victim 2 to implicate J.M.S. Bradby and Victim 2 did not know each other.

Bradby faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for making interstate threatening communications. U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson has scheduled sentencing for Feb. 7, 2024. Bradby remains in custody.