Florida man who left creepy voicemail messages threatening to kill top Democrat and his young children sentenced to shocking prison term

A 73-year-old Florida man is getting two years in prison for calling Rep. Eric Swalwell’s office and threatening to kill him and his children.

Federal prosecutors say Michael Shapiro left five threatening messages on the California Democrat’s Capitol Hill phone line on Dec. 19, 2023.

“I’m coming after you and killing you (swear word),” the messages said. “I’m coming and killing your children, your mother-(swear word). I’m going to kill your children,” said one phone call.

In another phone call, Shapiro called him a “Chinese spy” and referred to his involvement with the alleged Chinese spy “Fang Fang.”

After his arrest in January, Shapiro told officers he was drunk at the time and could only remember making one phone call, and said he never intended to harm anyone.

He pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of making threatening communications in interstate commerce.

In 2019, Shapiro also confessed to making threatening phone calls to another person.

In March of this year, Shapiro was charged with allegedly committing hate crimes against the Michigan Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”).

Around the same time period – December 8 to 15, 2023 – Shapiro called the Muslim group and said:

“I’m gonna kill you motherfuckers. I’m gonna kill you motherfuckers.”

‘I’m going to kill you motherfuckers. Muslims! I’m going to kill you motherfuckers. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!’

“You are a violent people. Why are you coming to America? Why are you coming to Europe? M***** f******. You are violent. You are murderers. You are rapists. I am going to kill you m****rf*****s!”

“No threat will deter me from representing my constituents,” Swalwell responded to X.

Swelwell then blamed “MAGA” Republicans for stoking the hatred Shapiro spread.

Swalwell’s wife Brittany and one of his children

Swalwell with two of his three children and aid workers

“MAGA Republicans have chosen violence over voting and this is what it looks like. But I’m not leaving and neither are you,” he continued.

A Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang targeted up-and-coming local politicians in the Bay Area and elsewhere in the country who had the potential to make it nationally, including Rep. Eric Swalwell.

Swalwell’s ties to Fang Fang led to a 2021 House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct.

The commission ultimately took no disciplinary action against Swalwell and closed its investigation last year, but it did send a letter warning lawmakers of the threat of foreign infiltration.

“Members should be aware that foreign governments may seek to gain undue influence through gifts and other interactions,” the letter said.

Fang Fang left China in 2011 to study in the US, where he worked to build relationships with key lawmakers, including Swalwell, to gain access to sensitive information.

She reportedly raised money for his 2014 campaign and attended a number of events that the congressman attended.

The FBI, which was investigating Fang Fang, first brought its concerns to the congressman’s attention in 2015. Swalwell said he then cut off all contact with the suspected spy.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee last year over his connections to Fang Fang.

Shapiro is said to have made the calls from his home in Greenacres, Florida.

In another of the five messages, which began around 7:18 p.m. ET, he said, “You (expletive) a confirmed Chinese spy. You (expletive), (expletive), you (expletive), you (expletive). You (expletive) a Chinese spy. Fang Fang.”

Swalwell and his wife Brittany have three children: Nelson, Cricket and Hank.

On his official website he proudly writes that their children are “growing up as Democrats.”