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U.S. vs. Gabryele Watson

USA v. Gabryele Watson

Case Number: 24-CR-00098

The defendant, Gabryele Watson, has been charged with three counts.

As it relates to count one, beginning on or about May 26, 2023, and continuing through at least on or about August 30, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person, that is, Victim One, did use an electronic communication service, and an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress to Victim One.

As it relates to count two, beginning on or about May 26, 2023, and continuing through at least on or about August 30, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person, that is, Victim Two, did use an electronic communication service, and an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress to Victim Two.

As it relates to count three, on or about June 7, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, did knowingly and willfully transmit in interstate and foreign commerce a communicating to Victims One and Two, that is, text messages threatening to kidnap and injure Victims One and Two, including by sending a hitman to murder them.  

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Should you believe you may be a victim, please contact your local FBI field office or visit www.fbi.gov/WatsonAdoptionFraud for further instructions.

Future updates regarding this case will be posted here. You may also follow our Twitter account of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee (@USAO_MDTN).

Updated June 6, 2024