Houston man sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for sending racist death threats to Rep. Maxine Waters

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — On Monday, a Houston man was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for making several threatening phone calls to California Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters.

Brian Michael Gaherty, 61, was convicted and fined $10,000 by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner.

SEE PREVIOUS STORY: Houston man indicted for allegedly threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Waters

The judge concluded that Gaherty targeted Waters because of his race and applied a hate crime penalty enhancement to Gaherty’s sentence.

On January 29, Gaherty pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a U.S. official.

In his plea agreement, Gaherty admitted to threatening to assault and murder Waters four times in August and November 2022.

According to officials, Gaherty made these threats with the intent to embarrass, intimidate and interfere with Waters while she was engaged in the performance of her official duties.

Gaherty left four voicemails at Waters’ Los Angeles County district office, each containing a violent threat, profanity, and racist and misogynistic language.

In August 2022, Gaherty threatened to “put a hood” between the congresswoman’s eyes,” “cutting (her) throat” and “trample on her”. He further warned that she “better move” because he and his “local boys” had a “contract” on her life.

Authorities contacted Gaherty and told him to opt out in October 2022, but a few weeks later he continued to make more violent threats.

In November 2022, Gaherty left Waters two additional voicemails, informing her that she “had done (expletive) ” in reporting his threats to law enforcement, and said: “It’s not a threat. It is a promise.”

He also threatened to meet Waters “on the street” and “go up (her) face”, and repeated to him that he and his “mob” had a contract to “take (her)…out.” Finally, he warned, “You better watch your back.”

The case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police and the FBI.

Assistant United States Attorney Laura A. Alexander of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section prosecuted this case.