A carpenter at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Manchester has been released on conditions he wear a GPS tracking device and stay out of Rye and Hudson after he was arrested this week for allegedly threatening to shoot two supervisors, federal court records show.
Paul M. Gangi, of Raymond, N.H., was charged with one count of threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder federal employees with intent to retaliate on account of the performance of official duties.
Gangi appeared in U.S. District Court on Tuesday for a detention hearing represented by attorney Jaye Rancourt, court documents show.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea Johnstone ordered Gangi released on conditions including:
- Wearing a GPS tracking device as part of home confinement;
- He must be evaluated by a mental health care provider to assess treatment needs as soon as possible;
- Refrain from entering the towns of Rye and Hudson unless visit is preapproved by probation officials;
- Report on a regular basis to a supervising officer, maintain or actively seek employment and/or volunteer/perform community service;
- Refrain from any use of alcohol;
- Avoid all contact with anyone who is or may become a victim or potential witness in the case;
- Refrain from possessing a firearm, destructive device or other dangerous weapon;
- Gangi is prohibited from entering Manchester VA Medical Center property.
Gangi served in the United States Army as a cavalry scout from 1999 to 2007, court records show, including a tour in Iraq in approximately 2004-2005.
He earned The Army Commendation Medal, among other awards and decorations, before being discharged and taking a job as a carpenter, a post he has held for the last 13 years.
According to the charging documents, on Sept. 5 an employee of the VHA reported to law enforcement that Gangi threatened two supervisory hospital employees by stating, "If they keep harassing me, I am going to come in and pop these guys."
The person stated that Gangi was allegedly "venting about how he was relieved of his duties as a locksmith and had his keys taken away," and claimed Gangi complained he was being targeted and harassed and the two supervisory employees were "trying to get rid of him."
"Person 1 knew from prior conversations that Gangi owns guns, had heard him talking about being a 'doomsday prepper' who had guns buried around his property, and that Gangi had referred to his house as a compound that he could protect," court documents state. The person went on to claim that other employees are nervous and that when Gangi is at the VA, he is a "ticking time bomb," court documents state.
VA police interviewed Gangi, and told him of the claims made against him.
"Gangi first stated that he did not recall threatening to shoot any supervisors and denied threatening to hurt any VA employee," court documents state. "Gangi then stated, 'If I was going to do anything, it would not be on the facility property."
The charge of threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder federal employees with intent to retaliate on account of the performance of official duties provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison.
A preliminary hearing on the charge was continued to Tuesday at 2 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Concord.
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