Thomas Bitter Pleads Guilty

Thomas Bitter, 36, has pleaded guilty to threatening a federal officer, a crime that could land him in prison for up to six years. The St. Thomas man appeared in District Court on St. Thomas before visiting District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez, where he entered his guilty plea.

According to the plea agreement, Bitter sent threatening e-mails to a Judicial Security Inspector at the District Court of the Virgin Islands between May and June of 2016. This was in response to the Inspector admonishing Bitter for sending numerous threatening e-mails to a federal judge in the Central District of California.

The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecution by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter. United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced the plea, highlighting the seriousness of the crime.

Bitter’s actions were a clear violation of federal law, which takes threats against federal officers very seriously. Under federal law, Bitter faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 9, 2017, where the full extent of his punishment will be determined.

The case against Bitter serves as a reminder of the consequences of threatening federal officers. The Judicial Security Inspector and the federal judge in California were simply doing their jobs, and Bitter’s threats were a clear attempt to intimidate them. The guilty plea is a victory for law enforcement and a demonstration of the commitment to protecting federal officers from threats and violence.

The investigation and prosecution of Bitter’s case were thorough and meticulous, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office working together to bring him to justice. As the case moves towards sentencing, it will be important to consider the severity of the crime and the need to protect federal officers from threats and violence. With a maximum sentence of six years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine on the table, Bitter faces a significant punishment for his actions.

In the end, the guilty plea is a step towards justice for the federal officers who were threatened by Bitter’s actions. It also serves as a warning to others who would consider making similar threats: the law takes these crimes very seriously, and the consequences can be severe. As the case comes to a close, it will be important to remember the importance of protecting federal officers and the need to hold those who threaten them accountable for their actions.