One time-political candidate Protack pleads guilty to sending death threats via U.S Mail

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A perennial  Delaware political candidate pleaded guilty in  U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to two counts of mailing threatening communications in Delaware.

According to court documents, Michael Protack, 63, who now resides in southern California,  mailed two explicit death threats to a Delawarean in January and February. Protack formerly resided in Hockessin.

Published reports indicated the threats were sent to his wife’s divorce lawyer.

The January letter threatened death by a certain date. The February threat included a graphic image of a dead body.  Both threatening communications were sent anonymously.

Protack pleaded guilty to mailing both letters and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. 

David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, made the announcement of the deal after U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews accepted the plea.

Andrews will sentence the defendant on December 6, 2021, after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

“Using the U.S. mail to threaten injury or death to others is a serious federal crime, stated  Weiss.  The defendant’s threats were graphic, violent, and specifically designed to inspire fear. My office will do what is necessary to ensure that the U.S. Postal Service is not used as a communication vehicle for violent threats.” 

“We consider any threat to life a serious threat. These were disturbing, calculated messages sent by Protack and he now faces up to 10 years in prison for his actions,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, special agent in charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “These types of cases are aggressively investigated by the FBI, Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners, and those who violate federal law will be held accountable.”

This case has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI-Baltimore Division Wilmington Resident Office, with assistance from the Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Briana Knox is prosecuting the case.

See earlier story below

Political candidate Protack indicted for allegedly sending threats via mail