Federal Inmate Indicted on Charges of Attempting to Make Threats Against Federal Agents

BOSTON – An inmate at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Devens was indicted yesterday in connection with attempting to make threats against federal agents and to cause an explosion at a federal courthouse.

Nathan Danforth, 34, was indicted on one count of making threats to murder federal law enforcement officers and one count of threats to damage or destroy a building using fire or explosive. Danforth will appear in federal court in Worcester at a later date.

According to the charging documents, in July 2019, Danforth allegedly attempted to mail a letter from FMC Devens to a federal court in Florida, threatening to kill the agents who previously investigated him and to cause an explosion at the courthouse. In February 2020, Danforth allegedly sent an email to the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General threatening that the President would die and federal buildings would be “blown up.”    

Each charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. FMC Devens Special Investigation Section provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.