Source: Office of United States Attorneys
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Alvin Bernard Parks, 44, of Greenville, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening a federal judge.
According to court documents, Parks sent a letter to a specifically-named United States District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina. The handwritten letter contained threats to harm the judge. An excerpt from the letter reads: “I have watched you leave the courthouse numerous times and plotted to get my revenge.” The letter goes on to say, “you best to make sure they lock me away for good cause I’m going to kill you or blow that courthouse up.” The return address on the letter was listed as Alvin Parks with the address to the Greenville County Detention Center, where Parks was detained.
“Threats like this endanger our justice system,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We remain committed to prosecuting illegal threats against public officials to ensure that such officials can do their jobs free from intimidation.”
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. sentenced Parks to 84 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Parks pled guilty in February.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.
###