Ridgeland man sentenced for threats to Fauci

A Ridgeland man has been sentenced to two years in prison for making threats against Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Center for Disease Control, the authorities said.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2021, Robert Wiser Bates, 39, placed phone calls to the CDC in Atlanta and left voicemails for CDC Director Rochelle Walensky that were threatening in nature, a release form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi said. 

“Through the investigation it was determined that Bates made similar threats towards Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health,” the release said. “The root of his anger was due to the COVID-19 vaccination program.”

Bates was sentenced on March 7.

Robert was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pleaded guilty on December 19, 2022. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.

Bates is currently being held in Madison County Detention Center.