The head of an asset management firm was charged in federal court Friday for allegedly threatening 47 government officials with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
The FBI arrested Vincent McCrudden Thursday night at Newark International Airport when he arrived on a flight from Singapore, according to FBI spokesman Richard Kolko. He is being held without bail.
Court documents say after he was the subject of a government lawsuit in early December, he began sending a series of obscene tirades directed at employees of the regulatory agencies.
In mid-December, the FBI says, the Long Island resident posted a long rant on his website, ending with, "Go buy a gun and let's get to work in taking back our country from these criminals. I will be the first to lead by example."
McCrudden also posted an "execution list" and added, "These people have got to go! And I need your help, there are just too many for me alone."
A few days later, his website offered a $100,000 reward for home addresses, phone numbers, and background information on a list of what he called "corrupt Government people."
McCrudden is expected to be arraigned in federal court in Central Islip Friday afternoon, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said.
His attorney, Bruce Barket, defended his client saying "Vince is a good guy, he's peaceful, he's never hurt anybody nor would he."
As for the purported threats, Barket said "some of them are him, but they are not threats. He's ill mannered, short tempered and vulgar but none of these, even after the Tucson shooting, are criminal."
McCrudden, of Dix Hills, was running PLNBM Asset Management and another firm, officials said.
News of the alleged threats to government workers come after a gunman shot and critically wounded congresswoman in Arizona in a mass shooting.
Officials said McCrudden was the target of civil enforcement action by the CFTC. He also allegedly made threats against workers with FINRA and NFA.
Each count carries up to five years if convicted.
The FBI says this wasn't the first time McCrudden made threats. One government official received an e-mail September that investigators claim was sent by McCrudden saying, "You're a Dead Man!"
Another said, "It wasn't ever a question of 'if' I was going to kill you, it was quest a question of when."
If convicted, McCrudden faces a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment for each of two counts of transmitting threats. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27.
