Colorado Man Gets 15 Months for Threats Against NM Officials

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Andrew Graham, 40, of Snowmass, Colorado, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced Wednesday to 15 months for leveling violent threats against a New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department official and a private attorney. Graham pled guilty in December to interstate communication of threats, a charge stemming from a bitter dispute over a failed attempt to recover stolen funds.

The case originated with the “Desert State fraud” – a scheme where Paul Donisthorpe allegedly pilfered money from a trust fund. Graham initially sought assistance from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department and a private law firm to recoup his losses. When those efforts stalled, Graham’s frustration boiled over, and he began to accuse the officials and attorneys of actively participating in the fraud, effectively enabling the theft of his money.

The communications quickly escalated. On December 21, 2018, Graham fired off an email to the Director of the Financial Services Division, stating, “If this continues I will come down there and start killing people… I will hunt you down and kill you if you continue to willingly participate in this fraud.” The threats didn’t stop there. Just over a week later, on January 2, 2019, Graham left a voicemail with the private law firm containing particularly vile and graphic threats against an African-American attorney, repeatedly using a racial slur.

The prosecution argued for a significant prison sentence, emphasizing the graphic and violent nature of Graham’s threats, and the fact that both victims were actively working to help other victims of the Desert State fraud recover their stolen funds. While the defense pushed for a non-incarceration sentence, the judge clearly sided with the government, recognizing the severity of the threats and the need to deter similar behavior.

In addition to the 15-month prison term, Graham will also be subject to two years of supervised release upon his release from custody. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec handling the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder that threats of violence, even those made across state lines, carry serious consequences.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The Desert State fraud remains under investigation, and authorities are still working to bring all those responsible to justice. This case highlights the often-overlooked fallout from financial crimes – the anger, frustration, and, in this instance, the dangerous escalation to violent threats.

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