Syracuse Man Sentenced to 252 Days for Threatening to Kill VA Employees

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Mark W. Sweeney, age 61, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge David N. Hurd to 252 days in prison (time-served) for threatening to kill staff members employed at the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Hospital in Syracuse, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Chief Jon Godfrey, Veterans Affairs Police, Syracuse, New York. 

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Sweeney admitted that he made a telephone call to the Veterans Crisis Line and made threatening statements directed toward Veterans Affairs Hospital staff, including that he intended to kill several people who treated him and had a plan and the means to do so. 

United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a one-year term of supervised release and ordered the defendant not to have contact with the victims of his offense.

This case was investigated by the Veterans Affairs Police Department (Syracuse) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian.