NY man was arrested for ‘terrorizing his ex-girlfriend’

A Long Island man has been arrested for allegedly terrorizing his ex-girlfriend and nearly a dozen of her sorority sisters after they broke up. 

Authorities allege that Thomas Traficante, 23, sent the first threatening text message to his ex-girlfriend and her Sigma Kappa sorority sisters on November 10. 

‘its [sic] not safe out there tonight kappas [sic],’ the message read.

According to the Democrat and Chronicle, about a dozen Sigma Kappa sisters at the State University College at Geneseo told authorities they received the message. 

The sisters said they ended up changing their plans on November 10 and postponed their event after they received the text. 

Authorities allege that Traficante then sent another text about 24 hours later. 

‘glad [sic] you all mostly took my advice last night, but moving it forward one night doesn’t make kappas [sic] or their dates any safer. I mean no harm, im [sic] not the threat, but harm is coming,’ the message read. 

Traficante and his girlfriend had broken up shortly before the alleged harassment started. 

Officials said Traficante, who did not attend SUNY Geneseo, did most of the harassment from downstate. 

University police checked on the telephone number that had a 585 Rochester-region area code, but found that it was generated by an online service and not linked to a mobile phone. 

Traficante (pictured) was charged with cyberstalking and threats, and is scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday for a bail hearing

Authorities allege that Traficante (right) sent the first threatening text message to his ex-girlfriend and her Sigma Kappa sorority sisters on November 10. ‘its [sic] not safe out there tonight kappas [sic],’ the message read

He was arrested in December and charged with cyberstalking and threats, and is scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday for a bail hearing. 

According to the Chronicle, federal prosecutors want him to stay jailed as he awaits trial.  

Traficante also allegedly sent his ex-girlfriend cocaine, then alerted campus police to the shipment in hopes she would be arrested.

An affidavit from FBI Special Agent Barry Couch said that ‘local police searched the sorority members’ house and reported the sorority sisters were extremely concerned and scared for their safety after receiving a text that read: ‘I’m in the house.’

Within a week after calls and texts, Traficante’s former girlfriend discovered that someone had posted her contact information on a prostitution website.

His ex-girlfriend said she received dozens of calls from men soliciting sex, according to the Chronicle.  

Within a week after calls and texts, Traficante’s former girlfriend discovered that someone had posted her contact information on a prostitution website. The Sigma Kappa sisters (file image) said they were rattled by the numerous texts 

Officials said Traficante, who did not attend SUNY Geneseo (file image), did most of the harassment from downstate. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors will try to make the case in court that Traficante is both dangerous and likely to flee if released on bail

On November 20, someone shot a BB gun at the window of Traficante’s family home in Long Island. 

Nassau County police approached Traficante, who denied the threats and the shooting, but said ‘he was seeing a therapist due to the breakup with victim,’ court papers said.

But Traficante’s former girlfriend was convinced that he was somehow involved with the harassment. 

In early December, university police subpoenaed information about the telephone number that was the source of the texts and were led to Traficante’s Long Island home address. 

The FBI found a semiautomatic AR-15, one that he legally owned, during a search of his home, according to media reports. 

On Tuesday, federal prosecutors will try to make the case in court that Traficante is both dangerous and likely to flee if released on bail.