A man from Fries, Virginia, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to mailing threats against several federal officials while incarcerated on state charges. Jonathan Reed Stiltner, 50, admitted in March 2025 to one count of mailing threats to injure officers of the United States.
According to court documents, Stiltner wrote and sent letters threatening harm to a federal judge, an Assistant United States Attorney, a federal probation officer, and a member of the Federal Public Defender’s Office. These threats were made while he was being held on multiple felony charges brought by Dickenson County.
One letter sent by Stiltner on November 13, 2023, included statements such as: “Although Im (sic) incarcerated I still have people on the street who can do things and if Im (sic) not charged federally ASAP as I was told I would be Im (sic) going to send people to pay [specific government officials] visits.” He also wrote, “Does someone have to get hurt to prove Im (sic) very serious.”
“Every day, judges, the judiciary staff, prosecutors, and public defenders work for the American justice system and should be free to do their work for our great Nation without fear of violence or retaliation,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “This office will aggressively prosecute those who attack our justice system by threatening violence against those who serve it.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals. The sentencing announcement was made by Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of ATF.
