Man charged after calls to Ackerman
Rep. Gary Ackerman holds a press conference in March. Credit: Danielle Finkelstein
A Hicksville man told by cops to stop leaving rambling phone messages with U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman's office responded by calling the office the next day and threatening local detectives and the F.B.I., Nassau County police said Saturday.
Detectives arrested the caller, James Guarnaccio, 55, and charged him with aggravated harassment.
Police said between Dec. 23 and Jan. 13, Guarnaccio left 40 messages with Ackerman's office in Bayside, Queens, that were of "a rambling nature and were not threats against the congressman."
Guarnaccio pretended to be an F.B.I. agent during his calls, said Nassau police spokesman Det. Lt. Kevin Smith.
Detectives warned Guarnaccio Thursday at his home that he'd be arrested if he called Ackerman's office again. But between 11:30 p.m. that night and 8:15 a.m. Friday, Guarnaccio made about seven more calls, threatening law enforcement in one of them, police said. He was arrested Friday.
Guarnaccio, of East End Avenue, was ordered held on $180,000 bond or $90,000 cash bail, the district attorney's office said. He's due back in court Jan. 19. He was arraigned at a hospital bedside Saturday. Authorities did not say why he was hospitalized.
His mother said in an interview Saturday night that her son did not do what the authorities claim.
"He didn't make the threats," she said. "I just spoke to him."
Guarnaccio could not be reached for comment, nor could Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights).
