U.S. Attorney Charges Man Who Allegedly Stalked Janet Jackson

At the request of the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, federal authorities have filed charges against a man they say stalked pop superstar Janet Jackson, claiming to be her husband and threatening to kill her live-in boyfriend.

Frank Paul Jones was arrested June 22 by a security guard as he was making threats in the driveway of the Jackson family compound in Encino. He has been in custody ever since, charged with seven misdemeanors, including trespassing, making terrorist threats and stalking the singer.

Since his arrest, authorities have uncovered letters in which Jones vowed to go to great lengths to get Jackson’s attention, including committing “mass murder at a Michael Jackson concert if necessary, in an attempt to murder Michael,” according to an FBI affidavit.

Concerned that misdemeanor charges would not be enough to keep Jones away from Jackson, the city attorney’s office asked the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI to take over the case. On Tuesday, the U.S. attorney’s office charged Jones, 33, with one count of sending threats through the mail. If convicted, Jones would face a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. His arraignment is set for today.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Gregory W. Jessner said he expects to file more felony counts against Jones by the time the case goes to a federal grand jury.

Authorities said Jones also made threats against Jackson’s brother Jermaine, who with Michael Jackson and three other brothers made up the pop group the Jackson 5 Jones also went to the White House in May to threaten President Bush as a way of attracting Jackson’s attention. He was arrested and ordered hospitalized, but was released shortly afterward.

Because federal authorities stepped in, the city attorney’s office on Wednesday dropped the misdemeanor charges, Deputy City Atty. Holly Beckner said.