A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted Edward Arthur Owens Jr., a 29-year-old resident of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. He faces charges of making threats to injure a local public official and providing false statements to government agents. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti made the announcement.
The indictment outlines that on May 20, 2025, Owens allegedly used a social media messaging app to transmit a threatening message directed at a local public official. The message included antisemitic remarks and called for violence against the recipient. The Anti-Defamation League identifies references within the message as promoting antisemitic views.
Further allegations in the indictment state that on May 30, 2025, Owens provided false information to FBI special agents regarding his firearms’ whereabouts. He claimed his firearms were with his mother and that he did not have access to them. However, it is alleged that Owens knew one of his firearms was still under his control inside his vehicle.
Owens remains in custody following an order by the court at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office after his arrest. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or both. The actual sentence would depend on various factors including the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is handling the prosecution while the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to these charges.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation and does not imply guilt; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
