MA Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening Interracial Couple On Facebook

BOSTON, MA — A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty Wednesday to threatening an interracial couple via Facebook Messenger and attempting to prevent them from reporting the threats, officials said.

Stephen M. DeBerardinis, 46, of Boston and Dedham, admitted that in 2021 he sent an expletive-laced Facebook message in response to a 2020 photo series shared by a newly-engaged white woman and Black man. He began the note with "EWWWWWWWW"and ended by calling the couple "white trash," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

DeBerardinis did not know the couple personally and could only view the photographs because he was a Facebook friend of at least one of the victim's friends, officials said.

He followed up his initial message with similar comments, after which the couple messaged DeBerardinis that they were reporting him to law enforcement.

"SNITCHES GET STITCHES," DeBerardinis replied.

He continued: "Read up more on me lol… you will see how me and my crew burn n*****s alive." He then threatened rape and murder, adding that he and his "crew" will "cut off body parts and mail them to your family lol."

The couple reported the messages to local police, who contacted federal law enforcement.

DeBerardinis pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person, one count of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion, and one count of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment.

Together, these charges provide for decades in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution.

"You can’t just threaten people online with racially motivated, violent physical harm and not face repercussions," Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division said Wednesday. "What Stephen DeBerardinis put this couple through is despicable. The FBI takes all threats to life seriously and so should anyone thinking about making one. We will investigate, identify you, and ensure you’re held accountable for your actions."

DeBerardinis was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10.