A self-proclaimed white supremacist, Hardy Carroll Lloyd, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for making online threats towards the jury and witnesses involved in the trial of a man who killed 11 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Lloyd, 45, from Follansbee, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in September to obstruction of the due administration of justice and was sentenced in federal court in northern West Virginia.
Lloyd confessed that his motivation to target the jury and witnesses stemmed from their actual or perceived Jewish faith. The trial in question was that of Robert Bowers, who was responsible for the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Bowers was sentenced to death in August after a jury determined that capital punishment was appropriate.
The U.S. Justice Department has described Lloyd as a self-proclaimed leader of a white supremacy movement. Prosecutors revealed that Lloyd, who was arrested on August 10, had sent threatening social media posts, emails, and comments on websites during Bowers’ trial.
Interestingly, Lloyd had previously drawn attention in May 2022 when the Texas Department of Public Safety offered a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest. This was after he allegedly posted comments online threatening to bring a firearm onto the Texas Capitol grounds and challenge any police officer who attempted to take enforcement actions against him. The department stated that Lloyd was a convicted felon.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world. Lloyd’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing hate crimes and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
