The Hill News

A 44-year-old Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Friday to threatening a congresswoman's office over his lost dentures.

Jesse Keel pleaded guilty today to a one count information of intimidating and interfering with a staff member who works for Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), United States Attorney Zane David Memege said in a statement. 

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Keel called one of Schwartz's Philadelphia offices in Aug. 2010 and told a staff member, "he had a
problem and needed help; that he was not far away, was an ex-Marine, and could jump on the bus with a rifle, stand on the roof across the street from the congressional office and shoot either the staff member with whom he was speaking or everyone in the office."

Keel's plea came after Rep. Gabrie! lle Giffords (D-Ariz.) was shot at a public event in January, though he carried out the threat before then. Since the Giffords shooting, lawmakers have put a heightened focus on security.

The Associated Press reported that Keel was angry over his dentures. 

Keel's is set to be sentenced May 23 after a federal judge accepted his plea. The man faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.