(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a 56-year-old Buffalo, NY, man was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with threatening to blow up the VA Medical Centers in Buffalo, NY, and Washington, D.C. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Henning and Charles M. Kruly, who are handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on September 12, 2023, Demont Coston called the Veterans Crisis Line  and made threats to blow up VA Medical Center in Buffalo. Coston made statements such as “If I can not get any help from the VA, no one can,” and “The VA won’t be here anymore.” Coston also stated, “he finally found the person that he wants to kill, and he planned to kill him tomorrow.” After investigators were unable to contact Coston, he was located at a family member’s house in Maryland. Subsequently, Coston made similar threats to blow up the VA Medical Center in Washington D.C.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the VA Medical Center Police, under the direction of Chief Richard King and the VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Algieri.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.