Officials announced on Wednesday that a Middle Tennessee federal charge has been brought against a woman from Georgia following the execution of numerous search warrants, including one for her residence.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, Gabryele “Gabby” Watson, a 26-year-old from Athens, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15. The charges include two counts of cyberstalking and one count of interstate transmission of threats to kidnap or injure.
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According to recent accusations, Watson is believed to have committed an adoption scam aimed at an elderly couple residing in Middle Tennessee. Additionally, he is being charged with making an interstate threat while communicating with the couple. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has released a statement providing a thorough explanation of the charges.
As it relates to count one, beginning on or about May 26, 2023, and continuing through at least on or about August 30, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person, that is, Victim One, did use an electronic communication service, and an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress to Victim One. As it relates to count two, beginning on or about May 26, 2023, and continuing through at least on or about August 30, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, and intimidate another person, that is, Victim Two, did use an electronic communication service, and an electronic communication system of interstate commerce, and a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause, substantial emotional distress to Victim Two. As it relates to count three, on or about June 7, 2023, in the Middle District of Tennessee and elsewhere, the defendant, GABRYELE WATSON , did knowingly and willfully transmit in interstate and foreign commerce a communicating to Victims One and Two, that is, text messages threatening to kidnap and injure Victims One and Two, including by sending a hitman to murder them.
According to reports, Watson could potentially face up to five years in federal prison for each count if he is found guilty.
The Nashville Resident Agency of the FBI’s Memphis Field Office conducted an investigation into the case, as per officials. The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison of the Middle District of Tennessee and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
According to the FBI, Watson’s main focus was on couples who were looking to adopt from 2015 until now.
If you or anyone you know has any information regarding this case or may be a victim, please reach out to your local FBI field office or visit the FBI website. You can also check the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for more information.
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