Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A man from Fries, Virginia, has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for mailing threats to harm several federal officials. Jonathan Reed Stiltner, 50, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of mailing threats to injure officers of the United States.
While incarcerated on state felony charges brought by Dickenson County, Stiltner wrote and mailed letters threatening specific federal officials. The recipients included a judge, an Assistant United States Attorney, a federal probation officer, and a member of the Federal Public Defender’s Office.
One letter sent on November 13, 2023, stated: “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,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci. “This office will aggressively prosecute those who attack our justice system by threatening violence against those who serve it.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with help from the U.S. Marshals. The 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
