Mobile Man Convicted of Transmitting Interstate Threats to Injure

MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Mobile man this week for transmitting an interstate threat to injure. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, following his termination from a local construction company, Cloepha Franks sent a series of threatening text messages to his former boss threatening to kill him. 

The jury heard evidence that Franks sent the messages from Alabama to the victim who was in Mississippi. Records of the text messages and cell phone records confirmed Franks’ phone transmitted the messages to the victim. 

The victim testified about receiving the threats. He and other witnesses from the construction company testified about precautions taken after Franks transmitted the threats and the fear his actions caused. The FBI testified concerning the ongoing threat to life investigation and evidence obtained from Franks’ cell phone and cell phone records. 

Franks faces up to 5 years in prison and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose in March 2024. 

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Stepan and Chris Bodnar prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.