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A United States Navy Lieutenant Commander has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for a prolonged cyberstalking campaign targeting his ex-wife and her new partner. The sentence, handed down by the Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby, also includes three years of supervised release. The conviction came in December 2025, following a two-week trial where a federal jury found Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring, Maryland, guilty of cyberstalking. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland announced the sentencing, which was supported by investigations from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Virginia Beach Police Department.
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The evidence presented during the trial and detailed in court documents revealed a pattern of harassment orchestrated by Leidel over several years. Court filings indicate that Leidel repeatedly sent emails containing false allegations to his ex-wife’s employer, a public school, with the intent of causing her termination from her position as a special education teacher. Beyond impacting her employment, Leidel also attempted to have his ex-wife and their children evicted from their home by filing false claims. His actions extended to making repeated false reports to child protective services against his ex-wife.
The cyberstalking intensified when his ex-wife began a new relationship with another individual, referred to as Victim 2. Leidel then turned his attention to this new partner, falsely accusing him of child abuse in reports filed with authorities. Furthermore, Leidel persistently emailed Victim 2’s supervisors, disseminating false information in an effort to instigate investigations and ultimately secure his termination from his job. This extensive harassment campaign against both his ex-wife and her boyfriend continued for several years until law enforcement intervened and arrested Leidel in connection with the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted the collaborative efforts of the FBI, DOT OIG, NCIS, MCPD, and VBPD in bringing this case to a close. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Sarma and Ken Clark were responsible for prosecuting the federal charges. The District of Maryland’s U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to addressing cybercrime and maintaining community safety, offering resources and information on its website.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland.
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