COLUMBUS, Georgia – A federal criminal complaint accusing a Columbus resident of posing as a federal agent was unsealed today.
Robert Earhart, Jr., 38, of Columbus, Georgia, made his first appearance before US Magistrates Court Judge Stephen Hyles today at the US Courthouse in Columbus and was taken into custody by the court. Earhart, Jr. faces a criminal charge of misrepresentation of a United States official or employee. If convicted, Earhart Jr. faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
According to the court case and criminal complaint, Earhart Jr. reportedly left a voicemail at the US Attorney’s Office in Columbus on Jan. 11, posing as a CIA agent with the CIA’s Protective Operations Division with top security clearance and requesting to meet with US Attorney Peter Leary. Earhart, Jr. also allegedly posed as a Homeland Security agent. Earhart, Jr. has a history of posing as a law enforcement officer and previously identified himself as a DEA agent when attempting to free three inmates from the Muscogee County, Georgia jail in May 2019. Earhart, Jr. was taken into custody by local law enforcement at the US Courthouse in Columbus on February 8.
The case was investigated by the FBI with valuable assistance from the US Marshals Service and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant US Attorney Amy Helmick is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is only an allegation of criminal conduct and all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
