Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Threatening a Federal District Judge and Other Federal Employees

LITTLE ROCK, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Leroy Selsor, age 36 of Brickeys, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison without parole and three years of supervised release for making threats to a federal district judge and other federal employees. Chief Judge Brian S. Miller presided over the sentencing in federal court in the Eastern District of Arkansas.

United States Attorney Eldridge commented, “Threats of violence, like the ones made by Leroy Selsor, are something this office takes very seriously, especially in light of recent events. This office will continue to protect an individual’s right to be free from fear, and those who attempt to evoke terror in our communities will be brought to justice.”

“Today’s sentencing of Mr. Selsor serves as a reminder that sending a threatening letter—even if it’s a hoax—is a serious crime,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Randall C. Coleman. “It demands a multi-agency response and causes a drain on resources. We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively investigate these matters.”

“The Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General [SSA/OIG] is very pleased with the outcome of this case,” commented Special Agent in Charge Robert Feldt. “The SSA/OIG will continue to vigorously investigate and bring to justice those individuals who threaten harm or intimidate the employees of the Social Security Administration.”

According to court records, on November 1, 2011, Selsor mailed a letter to a District Judge and an Assistant United States Attorney containing a threat to injure them by placing a car bomb in their vehicles. On November 4, 2011, Selsor mailed a second threatening letter to a district judge, assistant United States attorney, and a U.S. Probation officer that contained a white powdery substance and threatened exposure to a virus. On January 10, 2012, Selsor sent a third threatening letter to the Social Security Administration that contained a white powdery substance and threatened exposure to Anthrax.

Selsor was originally indicted on August 7, 2012. He pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications and one count of false information and hoaxes on April 5, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General. United States Attorney for Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge and First Assistant United States Attorney Wendy Johnson were appointed as special prosecutors for the Eastern District of Arkansas in the prosecution of this case.