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Press Release

Orange County, NY, Man Charged With Threatening A State Official And A Federal Judge

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

CONTACT: Barbara Burns   
PHONE:       (716) 843-5817 
FAX #:          (716) 551-3051  

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging Daniel DeGroat, 30, of Middletown, NY, with mailing threatening communications. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, in November 2020, the defendant mailed threatening communications to the Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and a federal judge.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; and the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.  

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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Updated November 24, 2021