March 3, 2009

ARAPAHOE COUNTY INMATE SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR MAILING THREATENING LETTER WITH WHITE POWDER

DENVER – Marc Harold Ramsey, age 40, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel to serve 30 months in federal prison for mailing a threatening communication.  Following his term of incarceration, Chief Judge Daniel ordered Ramsey to serve an additional 3 years of supervised release.  Ramsey must also pay a $100 special assessment, which goes to a general victims of crime fund.  Ramsey, who is in custody, was remanded.

Marc Ramsey was charged by Criminal Complaint on August 22, 2008.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on September 9, 2008.  Ramsey pled guilty before Chief Judge Daniel on December 1, 2008.  He was sentenced today, March 3, 2009.

According to the official court record, on August 21, 2008, at approximately 3:15 pm, a package was opened by a staffer at Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign office in Centennial, Colorado.  The package contained a threatening letter and a white powder-like substance.  Field tests of the powder by the South Metro/Parker Fire Department and the Colorado Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) 8th Civil Support Team showed the substance was not hazardous.

Investigation revealed that the letter with the powder was written and mailed by Marc Ramsey, while he was incarcerated in Arapahoe County. The letter said in part, “Senator McCain, If you are reading this then you are already DEAD! Unless of course you can’t or don’t breathe.” 

This case was investigated by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), including the FBI Hazmat Team and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF); the United States Secret Service (USSS); and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; with assistance from the Colorado WMD 8th Civil Support Team.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Holloway.

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