Fairfield County, South Carolina – Casey William Degolyer, aged 48 from Fairfield County, has received a federal prison sentence of 18 months after admitting to charges of threatening interstate communications, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of South Carolina. The court heard how the FBI had gathered multiple reports about threatening posts Degolyer made on social media.
These posts, which he made almost every day, included calls for the assassination of public officials. He talked about the need to hang certain office holders, urged the killing of police officers and their families, and advocated for dragging judges and their families from their homes to be attacked in public. He also pushed for violence against the government and called for the harm of people from specific racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Degolyer specifically targeted individuals and groups, indicating in his writings his intent to “go dark and take action.” Even after law enforcement reached out to him, his threatening behavior persisted. Degolyer has a history of criminal activities, including domestic violence, breaking protection orders, and unlawful telephone use. Upon his arrest, authorities found him illegally in possession of four firearms and ammunition.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Degolyer to 18 months imprisonment, a sentence that was above the advisory sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
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This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office with support from the U.S. Secret Service, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.