MACON, Ga. – Travis Ball, 56, of Barnesville, Georgia, is headed to federal prison after a bizarre campaign of threats targeting the President of the United States, local judges, and law enforcement. Ball was sentenced to 33 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release and a $7,500 fine, by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on November 30th. The case stemmed from a string of disturbing letters, including one containing a white powdery substance, sent earlier this year.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that Ball pleaded guilty to threats against the President. The investigation began in March 2021, when letters signed with an alias and originating from a Barnesville address began appearing at the Superior Court of Jones County, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and ultimately, the U.S. District Courthouse in Macon. The letter delivered to the courthouse contained a substance initially feared to be anthrax, triggering a hazardous materials response.
Federal agents quickly zeroed in on Ball. A search of his residence revealed a squalid living situation – a cot in the front living room dominated by a laptop and piles of letters. Crucially, investigators discovered a stack of notebook paper matching the threatening correspondence, and a partially-written draft containing a chilling, explicit threat against President Joseph R. Biden. The letter, dated March 8, 2021, read, “HATE YOU JOE BIDEN AND AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYONE IN THE WHITEHOUSE! I’M A PSYCHO KILLER AND AM GOING TO BLOWUP THE WHITEHOUSE AND KILL EVERYONE IN IT! IM SERIOUS AND NOT KIDDING! LOCK ME UP OR ALL OF YOU WILL DIE! HAVE SOME ANTHRAX YOU BASTARDS!”
The White House Mail Sorting Facility intercepted the letter on March 30, 2021, immediately turning it over to the U.S. Secret Service. “Sending death threats and purported anthrax is not protected speech — it is a crime,” stated U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I applaud the investigative work by our federal and local law enforcement partners to secure justice in this case.” The Secret Service emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation in protecting national leaders. “Our zero-fail mission requires a tireless dedication…to ensure the nation’s highest elected officials are protected,” said U.S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Clint Bush.
This isn’t Ball’s first brush with the law. Court records reveal he was previously convicted of felony hoax threats in the Northern District of Georgia in June 2017, after sending threatening letters to the State Bar of Georgia and Atlanta newspapers. Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, noted that Ball’s actions demonstrate “an unwillingness to be rehabilitated.” With no parole in the federal system, Ball will serve his full 33-month sentence.
The FBI and Secret Service are continuing to investigate the full scope of Ball’s activities, seeking to determine if there were any additional targets or co-conspirators. The case serves as a stark reminder that threats against public officials, even seemingly outlandish ones, are taken seriously and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The $7,500 fine will be used to offset the cost of the investigation and hazardous materials response.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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