FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS MAN FOUND GUILTY OF THREATENING AN FBI AGENT FOLLOWING A TWO DAY JURY TRIAL

DENVER – Troy A. Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and Joe Campbell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Division of the FBI, announced that THOMAS HINRICHS, age 26, of Colorado Springs, was found guilty today of making threats to an FBI Agent. The two day jury trial was before US District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2007.

HINRICHS was arrested based on a Criminal Complaint on November 21, 2006. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on December 4, 2006. The two day jury trial started on June 25, 2007. The jury deliberated for half of a day before returning their guilty verdict.

According to the facts presented at trial, HINRICHS' brother blew himself up outside a University of Oklahoma football game in October 2005. FBI agents made contact with the defendant as part of their investigation of that incident. HINRICHS became angry at the FBI for having investigated him. On November 15, 2006, Colorado Springs police officers arrested the defendant on an unrelated charge and found him to be in possession of an AK-47 type semi-automatic assault rifle, a bullet proof vest, and 40 rounds of ammunition. HINRICHS then made threats to kill an FBI agent.

He was then arrested and charged with making threats to assault, murder, or kidnap an FBI Agent in retaliation for working in his official capacity.

"Justice is done. Threats of violence against public officials are an attack on the public they serve," said US Attorney Troy Eid.

"The prosecution and conviction of Hindrichs, demonstrates that the FBI will vigorously investigate threats against law enforcement officers to ensure their safety while engaged in their mission to protect the public," said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Campbell.

This case was investigated by the FBI with substantial assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The case was handled by James Allison, Chief of the Criminal Division for the US Attorney’s Office in Colorado, and Assistant US Attorney Suneeta Hazra.

The defendant faces up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine for his criminal conduct.

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