Oregon woman sentenced for threatening coworkers, posting racist rhetoric online

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon woman who was found guilty of sending violent threats to her coworkers online will spend six months and three weeks in federal prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon reported that 56-year-old Cottage Grove resident Elizabeth Ballestros West was sentenced on Tuesday.

Officials said the FBI launched its investigation into West in late September 2023, when the bureau received an anonymous tip claiming that she had been threatening colleagues on Facebook.

Investigators found her profile on X, formerly known as Twitter, later in November. According to the Attorney’s Office, the woman would post and repost videos, statements and memes with violent messages about the Black community, Jewish people and immigrants.

The agency further alleged that “several” of her posts featured images of handguns, a shotgun and an AR-style assault rifle.

USAO said she confessed to sharing the violent messages and possessing multiple firearms in early January 2024.

When the FBI conducted a search warrant of West, her residence and vehicle, they recovered “12 handguns, 16 rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition and firearm accessories, and a journal that appeared to contain writings and drawings that included additional hateful and violent statements.”

The Attorney’s Office charged West with criminal complaint for transmitting a threat in interstate commerce on Jan. 12, when she was also arrested at her workplace in Eugene.

She was indicted on Jan. 18, and pleaded guilty later on May 29.

In addition to her prison sentence, West is expected to serve three years of supervised release.