Atlanta, GA - MICHAEL DISCH, 38, originally from Wheaton, Illinois, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard Story on charges of mailing a threatening communication to a federal judge and making false statements to federal officials regarding a threatening communication to another federal judge. DISCH was an inmate at the time of these threats, first in a Georgia state prison and then in a federal detention facility.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “By threatening federal judges, this defendant committed a serious crime by which he intended to disrupt the system of justice and intimidate dedicated public servants. He also caused federal agencies to expend resources to investigate his threats, which we have to take seriously in every case. He will be pay for this by spending 15 more years in prison.”

DISCH, who was already serving time on other charges, was sentenced to a total of an additional 15 years in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment relating to the January 5, 2007 threat, and 5 more years of imprisonment (to be served consecutively) on the false statements charge.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: On January 5, 2007, DISCH, then an inmate in a Georgia state prison, mailed a threatening letter to a federal judge in Atlanta who had recently sentenced DISCH on federal felony charges. DISCH expressly threatened to kill the judge, and included a white powdery substance in the envelope (which later tested negative for any dangerous chemicals). DISCH pleaded guilty to having committed this crime before another federal judge in Atlanta.

Two days later, an anonymous author sent another threatening letter from the federal detention facility where DISCH was incarcerated. This letter was addressed to the federal judge who had just taken DISCH’s guilty plea on May 15, 2007. On June 14, 2007, DISCH was interviewed by FBI agents, denied making the new threat, and disclaimed any knowledge of the May 17 letter. The investigation, however, confirmed that DISCH had in fact made this new threat as well, and, therefore, that his June 14 statements to the contrary were false.

As part of a plea agreement covering both crimes, DISCH pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with making false statements to a federal official relating to the May 2007 threat. This plea was taken by Judge Story earlier today, immediately prior to the sentencing.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Justin S. Anand prosecuted the case.