Former VA Employee in Providence Charged With Threatening Federal Official

Former VA Employee in Providence Charged With Threatening Federal Official

A former employee of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veteran Benefits Administration Regional Office (VARO) in Providence has been charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with retaliating against a federal official by threatening, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

It is alleged in charging documents that Andrew M. Nyamekye, 38, of Centerville, MA, sent a series of text messages to current and former VBA employees containing threats directed at, among others, the executive director of the Providence VARO. 

Nyamekye, who served in the United States Army from 2007 to 2011, was employed at the Providence VARO from 2012 until his termination in March of this year.

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Nyamekye made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Thursday and was released on unsecured bond.  A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (VA-OIG). Nyamekye was arrested by VA-OIG agents, with the assistance of the Veteran Affairs Police Service, Federal Protective Service, and the Barnstable, MA, Police Department.