The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that GARRETT SANTILLO, 43, of Hamden, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with mailing numerous threatening letters to individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, between approximately March and June 2022, Santillo mailed more than 100 letters containing threatening and hateful statements, including threats of violence, to journalists, judges and other public officials and individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere. Several letters mailed by Santillo contained this language: “If you don’t obey what this letter says, along with others including people in Washington DC and everywhere and you. You all will be killed!!”
Santillo appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish is Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond.
As noted in court documents, Santillo has been federally prosecuted, convicted and sentenced for mailing threatening letters three prior times, and he completed his most recent term of federal supervision in August 2021.
The charge of mailing a threatening communication carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. If the threatening communication is addressed to a federal judge or federal law enforcement officer, the maximum penalty is 10 years of imprisonment.
A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Hamden, Milford, Ridgefield and New Haven Police Departments. The investigation has also been assisted by the offices of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney, New Haven State’s Attorney and Litchfield State’s Attorney.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.