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Press Release

Inmate Sentenced to Prison for Sending Letter to The White House Threatening the President and Family

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH -A Uniontown resident currently incarcerated for state convictions has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months imprisonment, 15 months of which will be served consecutive and 15 months will be served concurrent to his state sentence for child molestation, among other crimes, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr., imposed the sentence on Joseph H. Savage, 34.

According to information presented to the court, on or about Oct. 24, 2012, while incarcerated and awaiting disposition on state charges, Savage wrote a graphic letter to the White House threatening to kill the President and the President’s family. Although Savage addressed the letter to 1400 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., the White House (located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.) still received it and turned it over to the Secret Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the United States Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Savage.

Updated August 13, 2015