Buffalo man who threatened to blow up VA building pleads guilty

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal employee following numerous threats made against the VA in 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

Authorities say on Sept. 12, Demont Coston, 56, called the Veterans Affairs hotline and repeatedly threatened to blow up the Buffalo building. Later that day, Coston called the hotline again, saying, “I should blow it up… I should burn the building down.”

According to the prosecutor’s office, Coston texted the hotline on Sept. 14, saying, “The VA has done nothing for me in 30 years, it’s time to get rid of them, by any means necessary.”

Coston also reportedly said he was going to “destroy every VA facility, but I have one in mind first,” and “I’m in Washington, near the main VA, ha ha ha well, I know where to hit them.”

Assault on a federal employee carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Coston’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11.