Roger King, a 39-year-old Indiana inmate, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of mailing threatening communications. The sentence, issued by United States District Court Judge Sara L. Ellis, will be served consecutively to the state sentence King is already serving.
Court documents show that on November 9, 2021, while incarcerated at New Castle Correctional Facility on state charges, King sent a letter to the United States Supreme Court Clerk addressed to “Republican Justices.” In this letter, he threatened to detonate a bomb at the Supreme Court building and stated his intention “to come to Washington to use a bomb” that would “blow up and kill all of you Republican Justices.”
Nearly five months later, on April 1, 2022, King mailed another letter from the same facility. This time it was sent to the United States District Court Clerk in the Southern District of Indiana and addressed two federal judges presiding over one of King’s civil cases. The letter contained a harmless white powdery substance and included language suggesting it was anthrax or boric acid. When opened by a judicial employee, the incident led to an extensive response from law enforcement and public health officials.
“Threats directed at members of the judiciary are not only criminal acts, but direct attacks on the rule of law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “No judge should ever have to fear that an adverse ruling will provoke an attack. Due to the outstanding collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, King was brought to justice for making these serious threats. My office will continue to hold those accountable who threaten and intimidate judges and other public servants.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Supreme Court Police led the investigation into King’s actions. Additional support came from agencies including the United States Marshals Service, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Corrections, Marion County Public Health Department, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. McGrath and Steven J. Lupa prosecuted the case as Special Attorneys in the Southern District of Indiana.
