BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Sunday morning that it was aware of a Facebook post that contains a threat to future protests related to Ahmaud Arbery.
The GBI has been made aware of a Facebook post that contains a threat to future protests related to Ahmaud Arbery. We are actively investigating this situation and will provide pertinent updates as necessary.
— GA Bureau of Invest (@GBI_GA) May 10, 2020
At 8:17 p.m., the agency announced the arrest of 20-year-old Rashawn Smith for allegedly making terroristic threats toward future protests related to Ahmaud Arbery.
Smith created a Facebook User ID of an unwitting individual to post a hoax threat. https://t.co/nfzIdsBMAE
— GA Bureau of Invest (@GBI_GA) May 11, 2020
Smith was taken into custody in Midway, Georgia and charged with dissemination of information relating to terroristic acts, which carries a punishment of up to ten years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.
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In a subsequent tweet, GBI said Smith created a Facebook account in someone else's name, which he used to post a hoax threat.
Action News Jax is working to learn more information about the nature of the threat.
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