Hardy Lloyd, a 45-year-old man from West Virginia, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for his actions related to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial. Lloyd, who identifies as a white supremacist, admitted to posting online threats, including photographs and personal details of witnesses and jurors involved in the trial. His actions were aimed at obstructing the federal hate crimes trial connected to the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland commented on the case following Lloyd’s guilty plea in September, emphasizing the seriousness of attempting to obstruct a federal trial through intimidation or threats. The Justice Department pledged to apply its full force against such actions.
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge, Mike Nordwall, remarked on the case, highlighting that Lloyd’s threats surpassed the boundaries of constitutionally protected speech and represented an unacceptable attempt to influence the jury through intimidation.
Lloyd has a history of antisemitic behavior and has been imprisoned three times in the past two decades. His activities have included distributing neo-Nazi leaflets and advocating for violence. Following a probation violation in 2019, he was incarcerated but was released in October 2020, which led to a public warning from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
