Latonia Smith Convicted for Threats Against Federal Judges

Las Vegas – Federal jury convicts Latonia Smith for cyberstalking and issuing threats against two federal judges and her probation officer. Smith, who had been on supervised release following her 2021 conviction for death threats against lawyers, is now facing a new sentence.

In a trial that lasted six days with a mere day of deliberation, the jury found Smith guilty of targeting U.S. District Judge Richard Franklin Boulware, responsible for sentencing her in 2021, and U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey, who oversaw her supervised release. Shawn Mummey, her probation officer, was also a target of her menacing behavior.

Smith was indicted while on supervised release for the previous federal conviction, stemming from her attempt to defend her mother’s firing at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Smith’s actions have been described as dangerous and unacceptable by law enforcement officials, emphasizing the serious implications of threatening judicial figures.

Upon her release from prison, Smith searched online information about Judge Boulware and his family, along with the judge’s wife, City Councilwoman Nancy Brune. Her searches included the chilling phrase “judges should die.” On June 23, 2022, she sent an email to her probation officer containing a violent YouTube video compilation and warned, ‘Life is short, society should be careful who they piss off.’

Smith’s escalating harassment culminated in emails threatening mass casualty events and using detailed information about the targets’ locations. For instance, to Judge Dorsey she wrote: ‘Tell Jennifer, Henderson is nice I see why she chose that area. Lots of shops nearby. Smart.’ This prompted Judge Dorsey to sell her home and relocate.

The victims, including judges and court personnel, have testified at trial regarding the emotional distress caused by Smith’s actions. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized that threats against the judiciary are not just criminal but also attacks on the rule of law, undermining public trust in the administration of justice.