Greenville Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening a Federal Judge

GREENVILLE, S.C. —Alvin Bernard Parks, 42, has pleaded guilty to sending a threatening letter to a federal judge through the mail.

According to court documents, Parks is alleged to have sent a letter to a specifically named United States District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina. The handwritten letter contained threats to harm the judge. An excerpt from the letter reads: “I have watched you leave the courthouse numerous times and plotted to get my revenge.” The letter goes on to say, “you best to make sure they lock me away for good cause I’m going to kill you or blow that courthouse up.” The return address on the letter was listed as Alvin Parks with the address to the Greenville County Detention Center, where Parks is detained.

The presiding judge accepted Parks’ plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report from the U.S. Probation Office. Parks faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.

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