A Jones County poll worker admits sending false bomb threat to elections superintendent
A former poll worker admitted to sending a false bomb threat to a Jones County polling location in federal court Friday morning.
Nicholas Wimbish, 25, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to false information and hoax charges after falsely claiming in a letter to the Jones County elections superintendent that there was a “boom toy” at an early voting location in Jones County.
He sent the letter after arguing with a voter in October as early voting locations opened. He signed it as if the voter he argued with was the writer of the letter in an attempt to point the blame away from himself.
His mailing a bomb threat, mailing a threatening letter and making a false statement to law enforcement charges were dismissed as part of his plea agreement. Prosecutor William Keyes said Friday morning that he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, no more than three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to prosecutors, Wimbish was arrested the day before Election Day. However, he will remain free until his sentencing hearing on May 13 at 9:30 a.m.
“Bomb hoaxes and similar threats create grave and unnecessary disruptions in our communities, pulling vital law enforcement resources and terrifying people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Our office and law enforcement partners take these types of threats seriously and will pursue federal prosecution when warranted.”
Letter: ‘Young men will get the beatdown if they fight me’
Wimbish was working as a poll worker at the Jones County Elections Office on Oct. 16, 2024, when he argued with a voter.
That evening, he researched what information about him was publicly available online. He then mailed a letter the following day as the voter he argued with to the elections superintendent of Jones County, calling the superintendent an “election fraudster” and stating that Wimbish had “give[n] me hell,” was “conspiring votes” and “distracting voters from concentrating,” court documents show.
The letter made threats toward Wimbish and other voters to look over their shoulders as the writer knew “where they all live because I found home voting addresses for all of them,” court records show. It also threatened to “rage rape” women.
“Young men will get beatdown if they fight me,” the letter said. “(They) will get the treason punishment by firing squad if they fight back.”
After signing the letter, Wimbish handwrote “PS boom toy in early vote place, cigar burning, be safe,” court documents show.
The FBI became involved and interviewed Wimbish, who told law enforcement that he didn’t know who conducted an online search of his name and indicated that the voter he argued with wrote the letter, even though the letter was found in his computer.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM.
