Brittan J. Atkinson, Threats Against Whistleblower’s Attorney, Michigan 2020

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Bay City Man Sentenced to Prison for Threats Against Whistleblower’s Attorney

BAY CITY, Mich. – Brittan J. Atkinson, 54, of Beaverton, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for sending threatening communications to a Washington, D.C. attorney, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.

Atkinson was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas Ludington in Bay City, Michigan on an unspecified date. According to court records, on November 7, 2019, Atkinson knowingly and willingly sent an email via the internet to an attorney in Washington, D.C. known to represent a federal whistleblower. The email contained threats to harm the victim stating, “[a]ll traitors must die miserable deaths” and “[t]hose that represent traitors shall meet the same fate[.]”

Atkinson told the attorney, “we will hunt you down and bleed you out like the pigs you are.” Atkinson’s threat continued, “[k]eep looking over your shoulder, we know who you are, where you live, and who you associate with, we are all strangers in a crowd to you[.]” Upon receiving the threat, the attorney contacted the FBI who immediately began an investigation and identified Atkinson as the sender of the email.

Atkinson was arrested on February 20, 2020. On December 1, 2020, Atkinson pleaded guilty to making an interstate communication of a threat to injure.

“The actions in this case are very alarming,” stated Acting US Attorney Mohsin. “Once free speech crosses the line and becomes a threat, you can rest assured that the full extent of the law will be brought to bear. No one should be threatened for simply doing their job.”

This case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Vance.