Threat to bomb Democratic Party office in Athens lands woman in prison
An Elberton woman was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison this week in U.S. District Court in Macon in connection with a bomb threat made in 2022 to the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee headquarters.
Jessica Diane Higginbotham, who also uses the last names of Harriod and Jones, had entered a guilty plea on May 16 to communicating a bomb threat.
U.S. Middle District Judge Tilman Self sentenced her this week. He also required her to serve two years on supervised release, according to release from the office of Middle District U.S. Attorney Peter Leary.
Higginbotham, 35, is a former security contractor, hired to provide security for the office in Athens.
The investigation began on Dec. 3, 2022, after federal prosecutors said an employee at the office received a disturbing text message.
“Hello, I am writing this message to you to let you know that I am coming by either tonight or in the morning to set a bomb up. So I can blow all the Democrats up,” the message read. "I have other people going to other offices also. If I can’t stop you by breaking in and destroying the property, then I will blow every one up. So be ready to be blown up. This is going to either happen tonight or in the morning. Hope you like being on the wrong team.”
The threat was made just days before the U.S. Senate runoff election. U.S. senators from Georgia were scheduled to be in Athens on Dec. 4, according to the document.
Scam: Athens woman buys gift cards after falling for arrest warrant scam
Oconee Blotter: Motorcycle driver screams at family in road rage, victim shows him his gun
The U.S. Attorney reported that on Dec. 4, FBI agents located Higginbotham at a coffee shop in Athens with the phone used in the crime in her hand. As agents approached her, the FBI reported she vomited.
The suspect denied making the bomb threat, but a search of the phone linked the phone to the threat, prosecutors said.
While investigating the threat, the FBI also learned a burglary occurred at the campaign headquarters in Athens on Nov. 27 and a laptop was stolen.
The FBI noted that the crime appeared to be staged as tables were turned over, but no forced entry was found. The laptop was later recovered in Higginbotham’s possession.
“Higginbotham’s threat, although a hoax, diverted precious law enforcement resources and wasted taxpayer’s dollars and for that she will be held accountable by spending time behind bars,” Senior FBI Agent Robert Gibbs, said in a statement released with the announcement.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: An Elberton woman goes to prison for making a bomb threat in Athens
