A Chattanooga man has been sentenced to two years in prison after threatening the life of a member of Congress. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that 45-year-old Garry Hayes pleaded guilty to knowingly and willfully transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure another person. His guilty plea was part of a plea deal.  

The incident that led to the charges happened in July 2024, when Hayes called the district office of a Congressperson and left a voicemail containing several violent threats. In the message, he warned that he intended to cause serious harm and even threatened to kill the lawmaker.

Additional evidence revealed this was not his first time making such threats. While Hayes was on a trip outside Tennessee in January 2024, he called another Congressperson and again left a threatening voicemail. 

During sentencing the court imposed the statutory maximum sentence of 24 months. Officials emphasized that protection of public officials and of society in general is essential, especially when threats of physical harm are involved. After his prison term Hayes will serve one year of supervised release.