Amherst Man Indicted for Mailing Death Threats

Michael G. Roby, 46, of Amherst, Ohio, is facing federal charges for sending a menacing letter threatening to kill a man and his entire family. A federal grand jury handed down the indictment after a yearlong probe into the terrifying written threats delivered via U.S. mail.

The letter, mailed on or about June 15, 2016, was sent through the United States Postal Service and explicitly threatened to injure the victim—a male recipient—along with his mother, brother, wife, and son. Prosecutors say the communication was not a vague warning but a direct and calculated threat meant to instill fear.

Carole S. Rendon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, confirmed the charges, underscoring the seriousness of using the postal system to deliver violent threats. ‘No one should live in fear because of a letter delivered to their mailbox,’ Rendon stated. ‘Federal law treats this as a violent act.’

The investigation was a joint effort between the Amherst Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Authorities are not releasing the identity of the targeted family, citing ongoing safety concerns. The case is now in the hands of Assistant United States Attorney Ranya Elzein, who will lead the prosecution.

If convicted, Roby faces a sentence determined by the court after weighing factors such as his role in the offense, any prior criminal record, and the nature of the violations. While the statutory maximum penalty applies, actual sentencing may be less, according to federal guidelines.

An indictment is not a conviction. Roby is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case serves as a stark reminder that threats—especially those weaponized through federal mail systems—are treated as serious federal crimes with potentially life-altering consequences.