PATERSON, NJ MAN CHARGED WITH TERRORISTIC THREATS AND CYBER-HARASSMENT
For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2024
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of BRANDON M. HERNANDEZ (DOB: 6/1/1995; single; unemployed) of 56 Park Avenue, Paterson, NJ, on charges of terroristic threats and cyber-harassment. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.
On Friday, November 17, 2023, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit initiated an investigation regarding an emerging pattern of social media posts threatening to shoot and bomb government buildings and judges. During the investigation, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office identified BRANDON M. HERNANDEZ as the person responsible for the threatening posts.
As a result of the investigation, BRANDON MICHAEL HERNANDEZ was charged with third-degree terroristic threats, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3a; and fourth-degree cyber-harassment, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1. On Thursday, January 11, 2024, HERNANDEZ was located and arrested in Paterson, NJ by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. HERNANDEZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Paterson Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Port Authority Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.