RALEIGH – A Wendell man was arrested on a criminal complaint for the interstate communication of threats toward executives at Advanced Auto Parts.
“Whether targeting a kid in a classroom or a boss in a boardroom, we won’t normalize violent threats meant to intimidate workers or strike fear in families. Threats to kill are not how we resolve differences in America, and it’s a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We’ll take swift action against anyone threatening an American anywhere in the world for what they believe, how they pray, or where they work. Period.”
According to court documents, on December 6, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was contacted by Advance Auto Parts about threatening messages sent through the company’s website demanding the company change the “moron who administrates your app and webpage” and provided a deadline of December 25. If the company did not comply, the customer stated threats such as:
“I live in Raleigh and am an expert sniper…I vow that I will hunt down your entire executive board and put bullets in their FAMILIES…there will be no stopping me from punishing your executives by murdering their families for refusing to improve the accuracy of your website search function.”The complaint alleges that, through investigative means, law enforcement determined that Edward Scott Huffman, 46 of Wendell, sent the messages. The complaint alleges that Huffman was interviewed and admitted to sending the messages. The complaint further alleges that, during a search of Huffman’s cellphone, law enforcement found a picture of a rifle mounted with a scope and a text message conversation in which Huffman stated he would have murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, if he was given $50,000 and a rifle that couldn’t be traced back to him.
Huffman is charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The FBI and Wendell Police Department are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign is prosecuting the case.
