Seattle man convicted for severe cyberstalking of ex-roommate, police, and prosecutors

SEATTLE — A Seattle man was recently convicted of launching a cyberstalking campaign against his former roommate, her family members, boyfriend, police, and prosecutors.

According to records in the case and testimony at trial, in 2020, Sumit Garg, 34 began an extensive campaign of threats and sexually explicit messaging and posts about a woman who used to share an apartment with Garg’s wife.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Garg accessed the former roommate’s personal information after moving in with his spouse then proceeded to threaten and torment the former roommate using the gathered personal information.

After the former roommate reported the harassment to police, in April 2020, Garg and his wife made false police reports to make it appear as if they too were harassment victims.

The DOJ said Garg used his computer skills to threaten multiple people in the former roommate’s life: her uncle who represented her in obtaining a civil protection order; her boyfriend; the Seattle Police Detective who investigated the threats; and even the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who prosecuted Garg for his illegal stalking conduct.

Garg used his computer skills to try to hide who was sending the threats or making the posts, according to the DOJ.

The stalking campaign apparently also grew increasingly violent, ultimately coming to include gruesome threats of rape, torture, and death, the DOJ said. Garg’s stalking campaign eventually involved thousands of emails sent from scores of accounts set up for the purpose of stalking, according to the DOJ.

At an undisclosed time during the stalking campaign, Garg was videotaped in the lobby of the victim’s new apartment building at the same time photos were taken and sent of that location to frighten the victim.

Garg managed to get his wife’s help in the stalking campaign by sending harassing emails to herself and others while he was jailed to make it appear someone else was doing the deed.

The DOJ said he also instructed his wife to destroy clothes he wore when he was in the lobby of the ex-roommate’s apartment building. His wife agreed and did send emails, but did not destroy the clothes and eventually cooperated with investigators.

Garg’s wife said in her trial testimony that she finally felt free to tell the truth when he was booked on federal charges and would not be returning to their home to abuse her verbally and physically.

Garg was indicted in March 2021 and has been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since then. He was convicted of conspiracy to engage in cyberstalking, three counts of cyberstalking in violation of a criminal order, and three counts of cyberstalking, according to the DOJ. His sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2024.

According to the DOJ, conspiracy to engage in cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in prison. Cyberstalking in violation of criminal order is punishable by a mandatory minimum of one year and a maximum of five years in prison. Cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service with assistance from the Seattle Police Department.