Inmate Serving A 30-Year Sentence In Florida State Prison Sentenced For Mailing Threatening Letters To Florida Judges

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Aaron Thompson (43, Raiford) to three years and five months in federal prison for mailing interstate threats. Thompson, who is currently serving a 30-year state sentence for kidnapping, was ordered to serve his federal and state sentences consecutively. The court also ordered Thompson to serve three years of supervised release and have no contact with the victims of his offense or any judges in the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Florida. Thompson had pleaded guilty on July 28, 2023.

According to court documents, in 2004 in Sarasota County, Thompson was convicted at trial of aggravated battery, kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. While incarcerated at the Union Correctional Institute in Raiford, Thompson hand-wrote various letters that included death threats and white supremacy statements. Thompson mailed the letters from the correctional institution directly to sitting judges on the Second District Court of Appeals in Lakeland.

Thompson specifically referenced committing acts of violence upon the completion of his state sentence in 2034. For example, he wrote:

“I AM AN EXPERT WITH THE NRA GUNS, ESPECIALLY WITH A SCOPE. YOU WENT BEYOND ANY RESPECT FOR MY SERVICE RECORD TO SLOW THIS DOWN, XXXX YOU! AND-I’M VERY CLOSE, 2034 TO ERADICATE YOUR WHOLE FAMILY”

“I WILL EXECUTE YOUR WHOLE FAMILY PERSONALLY IN 2034. I WOULD LIKE TO DO WHAT MOST JUDGES EXPERIENCE IN 3RD WORLD CIVILIZATION.”

“Those who devote their career to service and the American system of justice should not be subjected to threats of violence, especially through the U.S. Mail,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud of its work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this case. The conviction and sentence demonstrate our society will not tolerate efforts to erode the rule of law.” 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.