Dallas Man Indicted After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Federal Judges in Indiana

DALLAS - A Dallas man has been indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities say he threatened to kill multiple federal judges in Indiana by phone and email.

Joseph Dale Lewis, 45, was indicted Aug. 26. He had previously been charged by criminal complaint July 31 with threatening to assault, kidnap or murder federal officials with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with or retaliate against them because of their official duties.

According to the criminal complaint, a caller identifying himself as Joseph Dale Lewis contacted the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and threatened that two federal judges would die that day. Investigators said the telephone number used for the call displayed the name Joseph Lewis.

That same day, three federal judges in the Southern District of Indiana received an email with the subject line "Trump was murdered," according to prosecutors.

The email allegedly referenced targeting federal judges and the FBI in Indiana with "airstrikes" and was signed "Joseph Dale Lewis."

Investigators later interviewed Lewis' mother, who allegedly confirmed the telephone number associated with him. She also provided an email address belonging to Lewis that prosecutors said closely resembled the address used to send the threatening email.

Lewis' initial court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 3, but prosecutors said he made repeated outbursts directed at the judge and had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom.

Authorities attempted the hearing again Aug. 5. Prosecutors said Lewis again disrupted the proceedings with outbursts and threats directed at the judge and U.S. Marshals Service officers before he was forcibly removed a second time.

Lewis remains in custody at the Dallas County Jail on a U.S. Marshals hold.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Sterbcow is prosecuting.