A Charlotte jury heard the tale of a Taylorsville man who sent a threatening communication to a state judge, prosecutor, and jurors. Joel Michael Cliett, 45, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for mailing a threatening communication.
Cliett, who is currently in federal custody, was found guilty of mailing a threatening communication on May 13, 2021. The threatening letter was sent via U.S. Mail on August 21, 2020, to a state judge in Gaston County. In the letter, Cliett claimed he was wrongly convicted of a crime and threatened to kill the state judge, the judge’s family, the District Attorney, and the 12 jurors who convicted him of the crime.
Cliett boasted in the letter that he could kill all of the individuals through the mail using C-4. He also stated that ‘There is nothing you can do to me.’ Cliett sent the threatening letter while he was incarcerated at the Alexander Correctional Institution in Taylorsville, N.C.
The FBI and USPIS investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Cliett is currently serving a North Carolina state sentence associated with his prior state convictions. The sentence of imprisonment for mailing a threatening communication is ordered to run consecutive to his North Carolina state sentence.
The investigation into Cliett’s threatening communication shows a clear disregard for the safety of others. His sentence serves as a reminder of the severity of such crimes and the consequences that come with them.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte will continue to prosecute those who engage in threatening behavior and put the lives of others at risk.
Related Federal Cases
- California Man Charged for Hate-Fueled Threats Against North Carolinians · Indiana
- Texas Man Charged with Hate Crime for Threats against Sikh Employees · Texas
- Texas Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Threats against Sikh Organization · Texas
- Dwight Hamilton Gets 1 Year for Tasing Inmate Without Cause · Georgia
- Northridge Man Gets 3.5 Years for Hate-Fueled Threats · California
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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