(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a Pittsburgh resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of making interstate threats.

The two-count indictment names 31-year-old John Radford as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Radford sent emails containing threats to injure another person on two separate occasions. Prosecutors allege that on or about Sept. 18, 2025, Radford told one victim that a “list” of “people…ahead of you” was “all there is keeping you alive.” The indictment also alleges Radford stated the victim would not be “too difficult” to locate and referenced the victim’s spouse and children.

In a separate email sent on or about Dec. 3, 2024, prosecutors allege Radford wrote, “I say we blow your head off with a shotgun!” The indictment states Radford then described the shotgun as a “Mossberg 940” and said it would be used “late at night when you’re walk back to your car.”

Federal law provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, on each count. Any sentence imposed would be determined by the court after consideration of the federal Sentencing Guidelines and the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.