Portland Man Indicted on Federal Threat, Firearm, Stalking, and Terrorism Hoax Charges

PORTLAND, ME—United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Portland yesterday indicted Michael R. Thomas, age 51, of Portland, on federal charges of threatening members of Congress, mailing threatening communications, illegally possessing a firearm, interstate stalking, and making a terrorist hoax.

According to the indictment, Thomas mailed threatening letters to Maine Governor Paul LePage, Connecticut U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, Iowa U.S. Representative Steve King, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. The indictment also alleges that Thomas possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony offense. The indictment further alleges that, over the course of almost five years, Thomas sent threatening and harassing letters to a person in Massachusetts and that he sent a letter containing white powder through the mail to an address in Massachusetts. A previous indictment was returned by the grand jury on April 12, 2011. A criminal complaint was filed in connection with the case on March 25, 2011.

If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on the threats to members of Congress, the firearm charge, and the interstate stalking charge. He faces a maximum of five years on the threatening mailings to Governors LePage and Walker and the terrorism hoax charge. He faces a maximum possible fine of $250,000 on each charge.

The investigation that led to today’s proceeding was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Danvers, Massachusetts Police Department.

A criminal complaint and indictment are merely accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.