The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that charges have been filed against Sinclair L. Atkins who is currently confined at United States Penitentiary Terre Haute, Indiana.

According to United States Attorney, Peter Smith, Atkins, age 63, is charged in a one-count felony information with mailing threatening letters to various federal officials. The offense is alleged to have occurred in November 2011, while Atkins was confined at the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Marshal’s Service. Assistant United States Attorney Wayne P. Samuelson is assigned to prosecute the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

The government also filed a plea agreement in the case which is subject to the approval of the assigned judge.

A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statues and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is ten years’ imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.