Stanley Colin Moldenhauer, Threatening Communication, Oklahoma 2019

Stanley Colin Moldenhauer, 39, of Plano, Texas, is headed to federal lockup after being sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months at a halfway house for transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. The Eastern District of Oklahoma U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release, stemming from a 2019 threat that crossed state lines and triggered a joint investigation by the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police and the FBI.

The charges, filed under Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c), allege that on or about May 4, 2019, Moldenhauer knowingly and willfully sent communications containing a threat to injure another person. The messages were transmitted from Texas into the Eastern District of Oklahoma, placing the crime under federal jurisdiction. Authorities declined to publicly identify the intended recipient but confirmed the threat was serious enough to prompt immediate investigative action.

U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Moldenhauer was formally held accountable for his actions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah McAmis represented the federal government, presenting evidence that the communication disrupted safety protocols within tribal jurisdiction and required extensive law enforcement coordination to address.

Brian J. Kuester, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, issued a blunt warning in the wake of the sentencing: “Threatening to injure others is not only unnecessary and wrong, it is illegal. The defendant now has a clear understanding of such. I hope others who might be inclined to make threats will make better decisions than he did.”

Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office echoed that message, stating, “Today’s sentencing is a reminder that communicating a threat is a serious crime and will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively investigate individuals who threaten violence against tribal nation facilities.”

The case underscores the federal government’s willingness to prosecute threats that cross borders—even when no physical violence occurs. For Moldenhauer, the price of his words is six months behind bars, six in transitional custody, and a permanent federal criminal record. The Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, instrumental in the investigation, continue to work closely with federal agencies to protect tribal sovereignty and public safety.

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