Reva, Va., Man Pleads Guilty To Stalking Charges

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – A 61-year-old former employee of the Library of Congress pled guilty this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville to charges involving stalking and identification fraud.

Kenneth Edward Kuban, 61, of Reva., Va., was indicted in April 2013 on a variety of stalking-related charges. This morning in District Court, Kuban pled guilty to one count of stalking in violation of a protective order, one count of identification fraud and one count of violating a protective order within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

“Mr. Kuban used his government computer and the internet to harass and intimidate the victim in this case,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “While his actions caused the victim months of emotional trauma, they could have resulted in much more serious harm.  Fortunately, law enforcement acted swiftly and put an end to Mr. Kuban’s horrific behavior before it resulted in violence.  This case shows both the dangerous potential of web portals like the one Mr. Kuban used to stalk his victim, and our commitment to vigorously pursue actual or threatened violence against women in whatever form it takes.”

Today in court, Kuban admitted to posing online as the victim and using the website Craigslist to post advertisements and lure third parties to the victim’s home in anticipation of having direct contact with the victim for the purpose of having sexual encounters. The defendant admitted to posting more than 165 advertisements on the website between January and March of 2013. Many of these advertisements contained the victim’s address and/or photograph. Fifty-four of those advertisements were posted from Kuban’s personal computer while 111 were posted from his government-issued computer at the Library of Congress, his place of employment.

Between January and March 2013 more than 100 men appeared at or around the victim’s home seeking sexual encounters with her based upon the ads posted by Kuban. In one instance, a man arrived at the victim’s home with a crowbar in order to pry open an electronic gate the victim had installed to protect herself.  The man brought the crowbar at the urging of Kuban, posing as the victim. The threat to the victim’s safety became so great that local law enforcement felt it necessary to post deputies at her home to deter trespassing and harassment.

At a sentencing hearing scheduled for November 15, 2013, Kuban faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Library of Congress-Office of the Inspector General.  United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy and Assistant United States Attorney Ronald Huber are prosecuting the case for the United States.