Deborah Mae Carlson, Mailing Threatening Communications, Minnesota 2011

Burnsville Woman Sentenced to Years in Prison After Mailing Threatening Letters

A federal-court jury has found Deborah Mae Carlson, a 49-year-old Burnsville woman, guilty of mailing threatening communications in Minnesota. The jury convicted Carlson of 12 counts of mailing threatening communications, a federal crime.

The evidence presented at trial proved that on eight separate occasions, Carlson sent threatening letters to an individual. The letters were mailed on March 1, March 11, April 5, April 13, April 20, April 27, May 3, and May 24, 2010. All contained threats to injure that individual. She also sent a threatening letter to a second person. Moreover, Carlson mailed letters to various businesses in the first individual’s name.

Those letters, which demanded money, were sent to the store manager of the Eagan Target store on April 14, 2010; the store manager of the Valley Buick Pontiac GMC dealership in Apple Valley on April 15, 2010; and the Scott Lake Veterinary Center in Prior Lake on April 17, 2010.

For her crimes, Carlson faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each threat count and a total of 24 years on the three extortion counts. United States District Court Judge John R. Tunheim will determine her sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

The case resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Forensic Science Laboratory, and the police departments of Lakeville, Apple Valley, Savage, Shakopee, and Eagan. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.

The guilty verdict sends a strong message to those who engage in such heinous crimes. ‘We will not tolerate individuals who threaten and extort innocent people,’ said a law enforcement source.

Carlson is expected to face the consequences of her actions and will be sentenced accordingly. This case serves as a reminder to the community that such crimes will be taken seriously and those responsible will be held accountable.

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