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WHEELING - A Follansbee man was arrested today on criminal charges related to his alleged obstruction and witness tampering in the federal trial related to the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting.
Hardy Carroll Lloyd, 45, was taken into custody early this morning without incident, according to information provided by the office of United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. According to the criminal complaint, Lloyd began commenting online about the federal hate crimes trial in Pittsburgh, of Robert Bowers, the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooter.
Lloyd, a self-proclaimed "reverend" of a white supremacy movement, allegedly made threatening social media posts, website comments, and emails towards the jury and witnesses during the trial. Lloyd also allegedly placed or had others place stickers in predominantly Jewish areas of Pittsburgh, directing people to the website containing his alleged threats and antisemitic messages.
"Jury trials are a hallmark of the American justice system and attempts to intimidate witnesses or jurors will be met with a strong response," said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. "The use of hateful threats in an effort to undermine a trial is especially troubling."
Lloyd is charged with obstruction of the due administration of justice, transmitting threats in interstate and foreign commerce, and witness tampering. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the obstruction charge, up to five years for the threats charge, and up to 20 in prison for the tampering charge.