Florida inmate pleads guilty to threatening to kill a judge and family

FLORIDA – A Florida man serving a prison sentence is facing more time behind bars after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a judge and his family, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has announced.

Curtis Brown, 35, of Raiford, has pleaded guilty to threatening to murder a federal judge in retaliation for performing his official duties and mailing a letter to a federal judge threatening to kill the judge and his family, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) said in its statement.

Brown faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Brown was in the Florida State Prison in Raiford serving a state sentence when he sent a letter dated November 30, 2021, to a federal judge’s chambers. The letter was reportedly handwritten, addressed to the judge from Brown, and indicated it was sent in retaliation, the USAO said.

The letter reportedly stated that the judge’s “recent refusal to grant warranted relief” gave Brown no other choice but to use his federal stimulus money to pay for someone to kill the judge.

“Brown stated that if he could not get to the judge in time, he would settle for a member of the judge’s family.  The letter was signed by Brown and beneath his signature was a statement that the letter better stay between them, or it would get worse,” the statement said.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kirwinn Mike and Ashley Washington.