MAN INDICTED FOR MAKING THREATS TO EMPLOYEE OF AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

AUGUSTA, GA:  The Grand Jury for the Southern District of Georgia returned an indictment against a man for his role in making threats against an employee of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Joseph Armand Zimmer, 48, of North Dakota, is charged with Threats in Interstate Communication, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.  Zimmer was arrested on April 8, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He appeared in federal court in the District of Nevada on April 9, 2025, for an initial appearance. He will be required to appear in the Southern District of Georgia to answer to the charge.   

“Those who make threats against members of our community in violation of federal law will be held accountable, as we continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who seek to intimidate and instill fear in our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons.

As described in court, Zimmer made a phone call on February 18, 2025, to the Augusta National Golf Club, during which he made numerous violent threats to the individual who answered the call.  These threats included that he would “throw [the individual] in a cell and have [her] set on fire,” and that he would “blow [her] head off.”

Zimmer faces up to 5 years imprisonment on the charge.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“The FBI treats threatening communications with the utmost seriousness and will dedicate all available resources to locating and prosecuting those responsible for such actions,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "We trust that this indictment sends a clear message to anyone contemplating making threats, whether genuine or fabricated, through electronic means."

Criminal indictments contain only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes.