For the Second Time, Senior Citizen Convicted For Threatening Federal Judges
by Alex Lloyd Gross
In 2021, Keith Dougherty, 69, of College Park, Maryland, Sent threatening communications to Federal Judges in different areas of the country. He was sentenced to over three years in Federal Prison and was on probation when in July of last year he did it again, authorities said.
As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, the defendant has mailed and/or filed motions containing threatening language directed at federal judges, on numerous occasions and in several federal districts. While on his supervised release, he again made statements threatening the federal judiciary and was remanded back to prison.
Authorities said that while Dougherty was in prison, he sent through the US Mail additional threats to judges. He will be sentenced later this year, a sentencing date has not been finalized. He faces up to 40 years in prison and a $1,000,000. fine.
No judge should have to fear that one of their rulings might provoke a violent attack in response,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “Keith Dougherty knows that threatening judges is a crime. He’s already been prosecuted, convicted, and served previous time for sending these vile communications. His behavior is unacceptable, and today’s verdict ensures he’ll answer for it and remain safely behind bars.”