DALLAS — A federal grand jury has indicted a Dallas man accused of threatening to kill multiple federal judges in Indiana, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Joseph Dale Lewis, 45, was indicted Aug. 26 on a federal charge of threatening to assault, kidnap or murder federal officials with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with or retaliate against them because of their official duties.
Lewis was initially charged by criminal complaint July 31.
According to the complaint, a caller who identified himself as Joseph Dale Lewis contacted the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and allegedly said, “Two of your (Federal) judges are going to die today, get the [expletive] out the building.”
Investigators said the phone number used for the call displayed the name Joseph Lewis.
That same day, three federal judges in the Southern District of Indiana reportedly received an email with the subject line “Trump was murdered.”
According to prosecutors, the message referenced “hitting Federal judges in Indiana with airstrikes … and the FBI in Indiana” and was signed “Joseph Dale Lewis.”
Federal investigators later interviewed Lewis’ mother, Laverne Barker, who allegedly confirmed a telephone number associated with him.
She also provided investigators with an email address that prosecutors said closely resembled the account used to send the threatening message.
“Threats against federal judges and elected officials strike at the foundation of our republic, and will not be tolerated by this office,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. “This office is committed to standing up for our other branches of government, at both the state and federal level, so they can exercise their authorities under our constitution free from intimidation and violence.”
Lewis’ initial appearance was scheduled for Aug. 3 but was postponed after authorities said he made repeated outbursts directed at the judge and had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom.
A second attempt to hold the hearing Aug. 5 also ended after Lewis allegedly disrupted the proceedings with additional outbursts and threats directed at the judge and U.S. Marshals Service officers, according to federal prosecutors.
“The FBI thoroughly investigates anyone who threatens the life of a federal judge or elected official,” FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said. “We take these offenses seriously and ask the public to report threatening behavior to law enforcement.”
If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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