Hamden Man Who Mailed Numerous Threatening Letters is Sentenced

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GARRETT SANTILLO, 45, of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to one day of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for mailing numerous threatening letters to individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately December 2021 and June 2022, Santillo mailed more than 100 letters containing threatening and hateful statements, including threats of violence, to journalists, judges and other public officials and individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere, including a Justice of the United States Supreme Court and a United States Supreme Court Justice Nominee.  Several letters mailed by Santillo contained this or similar language:  “If you don’t obey what this letter says, you along with others including [name redacted] and people in Washington DC and everywhere and you.  You all will be killed!!”

Santillo was arrested on July 6, 2022.  On June 1, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications to a United States Judge.

This is Santillo’s fourth federal prosecution for mailing threatening letters.

Judge Bolden ordered Santillo to continue his mental health treatment while on supervised release, and to allow the U.S. Probation Office to monitor his electronic devices.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Hamden, Milford, Ridgefield, and New Haven Police Departments.  The investigation has also been assisted by the offices of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney, the New Haven State’s Attorney and the Litchfield State’s Attorney.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.