FOLLANSBEE, WV – Hardy Carroll Lloyd, 45, pleaded guilty to obstructing the federal hate crimes trial related to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, according to statements from the Justice Department and court records.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that Lloyd’s actions sought to interfere with the trial of “the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history.” He stated that such attempts to disrupt federal trials would face the full extent of the law.
FBI Director Christopher Wray indicated that Lloyd threatened witnesses and jurors in the ongoing trial, calling such actions “absolutely reprehensible.”
Court documents reveal that Lloyd made threats to jurors and witnesses via online platforms. Lloyd identifies as a “reverend” in a white supremacy movement and distributed threats through social media, website comments, and emails. His plea agreement acknowledges that his actions targeted those involved in the trial based on their Jewish religion or the religion of the victims.
Pending court acceptance of the agreement, Lloyd faces a prison sentence of 78 months, expected to be at the higher end of federal sentencing guidelines.
The case is currently under investigation by the FBI and is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph Bernard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas for the Northern District of West Virginia.