Boston grand jury indicts man for cyberstalking Katie Miller

A Boston federal grand jury indicted John Anthony Proia III on Oct. 1, 2026 for cyberstalking Katie Miller, the conservative podcaster and wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

The indictment marks a rare use of terrorism‑related investigative resources to combat online harassment, highlighting heightened concerns about threats to public officials and their families.

Prosecutors allege Proia, 41, of Waltham contacted the victim at least 40 times between Aug. 3 and Sept. 23, using a series of changing phone numbers generated through free internet‑calling apps. The calls and voicemails featured a menacing tone and frequent profanity. Text messages were also sent to Miller’s parents, including insults that referred to Stephen Miller’s Jewish identity and called him a “Nazi” and a “white supremacist.”

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the campaign “profoundly disrupted” the Millers’ lives and warned that anonymity would not shield the sender from prosecution, stating, “We will find you, and we will hold you accountable.”

Proia appeared in federal court on Thursday, pleaded not guilty, and faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

The arrest was carried out by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. The investigation also led to the reassignment of two senior counterterrorism supervisors at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, a move officials said resulted from an internal review of the office’s needs.

After the indictment was announced, Katie Miller posted a thank‑you message on X, expressing gratitude to Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, and the FBI for keeping her family safe.

Proia is scheduled to return to federal district court in Boston later this month. The case will be closely watched as a test of how law‑enforcement agencies address the growing use of technology to intimidate public figures.