RALEIGH, N.C. — A Durham man has been federally indicted for cyberstalking five victims, including Raleigh’s first openly gay city council member, in a campaign of harassment that allegedly began in 2016 and continued through this year.
David Ryan Winters, 38, faces multiple charges, with prosecutors alleging he targeted his victims based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The indictment accuses Winters of sending electronic and text messages intended to intimidate and harass his victims and, in some instances, individuals close to them. If convicted on all counts, Winters could face up to 25 years in prison.
Years of Harassment
One of the victims, Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Lambert-Melton, publicly confirmed he was among those targeted. Lambert-Melton, elected in 2019 as the council’s first LGBTQ+ representative, shared that he has endured years of harassment, including death threats, from Winters.
“When someone is aware of where you live and threatening to come to your home … [and] suggesting I should die … it’s really difficult,” Lambert-Melton told WRAL. He revealed that Winters repeatedly created new social media accounts to evade being blocked.
While Lambert-Melton expressed relief at Winters’ arrest, he also hopes the accused will be held accountable and receive the help he needs. Lambert-Melton planned to deliver a victim impact statement during Winters’ court appearance on Monday.
Federal Civil Rights Efforts
This case is part of a broader initiative led by the Civil Rights Team of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC). Launched in 2022 by U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, the team prioritizes civil rights cases involving protected categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, and national origin.
In 2023, the office expanded its civil rights efforts by adding two dedicated prosecutors to the team. Recent cases include the indictment of an Alabama man for cyberstalking a woman based on her sexual orientation and the arrest of a California man who allegedly made threats targeting law enforcement, elected officials, and synagogues in North Carolina.
“Everybody has an equal right to live, work, worship, and love in America,” U.S. Attorney Easley said in a press release. “We won’t tolerate those who threaten, stalk, or use violence just because they don’t like how somebody else lives. Everybody is treated equally and fairly under the law, and we won’t normalize violence and intimidation. Our Civil Rights Team is squaring off against threats and hate-fueled violence of any kind and not slowing down.”
Ongoing Investigations
The Raleigh and Durham Police Departments, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel is leading the prosecution.
The indictment emphasizes that Winters’ actions allegedly spanned years, affecting multiple victims, including Lambert-Melton and others identified only by their initials. Prosecutors allege that Winters’ harassment, which included threats and attempts to instill fear, violated the civil rights of his victims.
Call for Awareness
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is encouraging victims of cyberstalking or harassment to contact local law enforcement or the FBI. “An indictment is merely an accusation,” the office reminded in its statement. “The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
For Lambert-Melton and others impacted, the case represents a chance to hold perpetrators accountable while shining a light on the need to combat hate-based harassment. As the case unfolds, advocates are hopeful that it will serve as a deterrent against future acts of intimidation targeting marginalized communities.
For resources and support, victims of harassment or cyberstalking can reach out to organizations like the FBI or their local law enforcement agencies.
