Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A South Dennis man has been sentenced for threatening to kill a federal official and members of the official’s family, according to an announcement from federal authorities.
Michael P. Mahoney, 62, received a sentence of two years of supervised release, including three months of home detention and a $5,000 fine. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper handed down the sentence following Mahoney's guilty plea in August 2025 to one count of transmitting interstate threats to injure another person. Mahoney was arrested and charged in April 2025.
The incident occurred on March 28, 2025, when the relative of a prominent federal official was dining with others outside Massachusetts. Around 10:15 p.m., the relative received a call from an unknown number. According to authorities, “Upon answering the phone, the caller, later identified to be Mahoney, confirmed the relative’s full name. Mahoney then started to scream and stated that he was going to murder the relative, their spouse and the federal official –referring to the spouse and federal official by their first names – and said, ‘Die you f*****g c**t mother f****r.’ The relative hung up while Mahoney was yelling. The call lasted approximately 12 seconds.” Officials added that Mahoney called back immediately but did not receive an answer.
Law enforcement traced both calls back to Mahoney using phone records provided by the service provider. When officers approached his residence in South Dennis on March 29, 2025, he refused to answer either his door or his phone.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan, Chief of the National Security Unit.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated alongside officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division, Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, and Dennis Police Chief John Brady: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Dennis Police Chief John Brady made the announcement today.”
