An Alabama man was arrested Wednesday in Cullman for allegedly threatening to execute Arizona election officials for “treason” after claiming voter fraud in the state’s 2022 gubernatorial race, prosecutors said.
Brian Jerry Ogstad, 59, of Cullman, is facing five federal counts of communicating an interstate threat in federal court in Huntsville, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Ogstad allegedly sent threatening messages to the Maricopa County Elections Office’s social media account.
“[Y]ou people are so ducking [sic] stupid. Everyone knows you are lots [sic], cheats, frauds and in doing so in relation to elections have committed treason. You will all be executed. Bang [expletive]!” Ogstad allegedly wrote on the office’s social media account on Aug. 4, 2022, after Arizona held primary elections for races including governor, which drew national attention, prosecutors said.
Ogstad allegedly sent similar threats on the day after the Aug. 2, 2022 election, prosecutors said, including: “You did it! Now you are [expletive]. Dead. You will all be executed for your crimes”; “[expletive] you! You are caught! They have it all. You [expletive] are dead”; “You are lying, cheating [expletive] . . . you better not come in my church, my business or send your kids to my school. You are [expletive] stupid if you think your lives are safe”; and “You [expletive] are so dead.”
“As alleged in the indictment, Brian Ogstad sent threatening messages to a social media account maintained by the Maricopa County Elections office. After referencing claims of voter fraud in Arizona’s 2022 gubernatorial race, Ogstad allegedly made a number of threats to election workers and officials, including that they were ‘dead’ and ‘stupid if you think your lives are safe,’” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Public servants who administer our elections — the cornerstone of our democracy — must be able to do their jobs without fear. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who target election officials and workers with threats of violence.”
Ogstad faces up to five years in federal prison on each count if convicted.
“We cannot permit election skeptics to threaten vigilante justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We will continue to prosecute true threats against Arizona’s election officials and other public servants, including direct messages sent on social media, or communications in any other format.”
“The FBI takes all threats of violence seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The work of election officials, their staffs, and volunteers is essential to our democracy and any threat to these public servants is completely unacceptable. The FBI remains vigilant in our efforts to detect and assess possible threats and, as always, we encourage the public to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety.”
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation.
The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Over two years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun.
Under Monaco’s leadership, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as partners like the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The Justice Department urged anyone who knows of threats or violent acts relating to election to call their local FBI office and request to speak with the election crimes coordinator. Field offices can be found here.
Tipsters may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint here.
