Miami Courant

A man who sent letters from state prison expressing a desire to kill federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and federal prosecutors was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison.

During a hearing in Miami on Aug. 19, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno sentenced Michael Dean Drew, 51, to 240 months in federal prison, a term of incarceration above the guideline range, to run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. Drew had previously been sentenced five times for sending threatening letters to federal judges, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement officers.

“The public officials who work to keep our country safe and uphold the rule of law should not have to fear for their lives or the lives of their families,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence should make clear that the Justice Department has no tolerance for violence or threats of violence against public servants.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate heinous threats of violence that target prosecutors, the judiciary, and our partners in law enforcement,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “As evidenced in the case against Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate threats against public servants and aggressively seek penalties against those who engage in such abhorrent crimes. We must protect our dedicated government employees so that they may carry out their jobs without fear and ensure the functions of our democracy.”

“Law enforcement officers, judges, and prosecutors work every day to keep us safe against an ever-growing list of threats,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Threatening them for doing their jobs to keep our communities safe strikes at the very heart of our society. This long sentence sends a strong message that we will take all measures to protect the public servants who dedicate their lives to ensure our public safety.”

"Threats against officers of the court strike at the very heart of our judicial system,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “The dedicated agents and prosecutors who investigate and prosecute criminal activity and the judges who impartially operate our court system must be unburdened by intimidation. This is fundamental to the rule of law. The FBI will relentlessly investigate and bring to justice those individuals who attempt to tip the scales of justice through fear and threats.”

"The U.S. Marshals Service is dedicated to protecting our justice system and those who serve it," said Gadyaces Serralta, U.S. Marshal for the District of Southern Florida. "We will not tolerate threats against prosecutors, judges, or law enforcement."

According to court records, in May 2023 Drew mailed a letter threatening a federal judge with violent death for presiding over a particular criminal case in Florida's Southern District Courtroom . In August 2023 he sent two more letters threatening another judge along with members from US Marshal Services located within Miami Courthouse premises describing recruitment efforts aimed towards orchestrating violent murders involving both parties mentioned earlier . September saw similar actions taken targeting Assistant US Attorneys stationed across Virginia & Georgia states via further correspondence where detailed plans were shared regarding utilization Aryan Nation affiliated gang members alongside other recruits carrying out intended killings involving these officials' families too.

In one letter Drew wrote: "take great pleasure knowing you will suffer die", referring specifically targeted judge whose body would then be discarded like trash thrown into ditch while another addressed towards US Marshals claimed recruitment drive among fellow inmates joining Aryan Nation stating objective being murder maximum number possible having taken blood oath harass terrorize destroy Federal Agents all retaliation roles played judicial system

On June 6th this year plea agreement reached whereby admitting guilt five counts mailing threatening communications resulted current sentencing outcome announced today

US Attorney Markenzy Lapointe Southern District Florida Special Agent Charge Jeffrey B Veltri FBI Miami Field Office US Marshal Gadyaces S Serralta jointly made announcement

FBI Miami US Marshals Service investigated case Assistant US Attorneys Daniel Funk Zachary A Keller prosecuted matter alongside Emily R Stone handling asset forfeiture aspects related proceedings

Further information available via official website District Court Southern District Florida www.flsduscourtsgov http://pacerflsduscourtsgov under case number 24-CR-20039