Milton Inmate Sentenced for Sending Threats Through the Mail

Pensacola, Florida - Daniel Bookout, 21, an inmate in a Florida State Prison, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for mailing threatening communications. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence today.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Protecting our communities from violence and threats of violence remains a top priority for my office, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute cases like this to keep our citizens safe from the predations of violent thugs."

Court documents reflect that on October 18, 2024, the Clerk of Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, received a threatening letter sent by the defendant directed toward a victim. In the letter, the defendant said he knew the victim's address and the route they regularly drove to work. Further, the defendant claimed to be a gang member and that he had people watching the victim. The defendant demanded to be released from prison and threatened to have the victim killed.

Upon his release from federal prison, Bookout will be on three years of supervised release.

"The US Marshals do not tolerate criminal threats against innocent victims," remarked Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal. "Protecting our nation's federal judicial system and its participants has been a top priority of this organization for over 200 years."

"Being behind bars does not give anyone a license to threaten or intimidate victims," said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. "This sentence holds the defendant accountable and sends a clear message that victims have a right to come forward without the fear of retaliation."

The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Welch.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.