John B. Hart, a 54-year-old man from Louisville, Colorado, was sentenced to over eight years in prison for cyberstalking and obstruction of justice. Hart targeted his former girlfriend, Jane Doe 1, her ex-partner, John Doe 1, and her current partner, John Doe 2, between May and August 2022 while living in Hawaii. He engaged in a series of harassing acts, including posing as John Doe 1 to impersonate and falsely implicate him in the harassment, using burner apps to disguise his identity.
Hart’s actions included sending messages to Jane Doe 1 that encouraged self-harm and sending threatening messages to her family, as well as falsely claiming that her current partner was involved in human trafficking. He also created fake online profiles using her name and arranged for men to show up at her workplace, further tormenting her. In addition, Hart sent threats to John Doe 2, including threats to release compromising photos of Jane Doe 1, and vandalized Jane Doe 1’s vehicle with spray paint and metal spikes.
After being questioned by federal agents, Hart obstructed the investigation by deleting one of his personal email accounts, which was part of his ongoing efforts to cover up his actions. Hart pled guilty to multiple counts of cyberstalking and obstruction of justice in April 2023, admitting to the harassment, threats, and his attempt to obstruct the investigation.
The FBI’s Honolulu Field Office investigated the case, with support from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii. The case highlights the severe consequences of cyberstalking, especially when combined with efforts to deceive law enforcement and intimidate victims. Hart has been detained since his arrest in August 2023 and faces a long prison sentence for his crimes.
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