The Grand Jury for the Southern District of Georgia has indicted Joseph Armand Zimmer, a 48-year-old North Dakota resident, for allegedly making threats against an Augusta National Golf Club employee. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons, Zimmer faces a charge of threats in interstate communication. He was apprehended on April 8, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and made an initial court appearance the following day in the District of Nevada. He will need to appear before the Southern District of Georgia to respond to the charge.
“Those who make threats against members of our community in violation of federal law will be held accountable, as we continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who seek to intimidate and instill fear in our citizens,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons.
Court descriptions reveal that Zimmer called the golf club on February 18, 2025, issuing several violent threats against the call recipient. Specific threats included plans to "throw [the individual] in a cell and have [her] set on fire," and to "blow [her] head off."
If convicted, Zimmer could face up to five years in prison, as there is no parole in the federal system.
Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Paul Brown, emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “The FBI treats threatening communications with the utmost seriousness and will dedicate all available resources to locating and prosecuting those responsible for such actions. We trust that this indictment sends a clear message to anyone contemplating making threats, whether genuine or fabricated, through electronic means."
Currently, Zimmer remains a defendant and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes prosecuting the case.