CT man pleads guilty to sending over 100 threatening letters to a U.S. Supreme Court justice, public officials, journalists

A Hamden man pleaded guilty Thursday to mailing more than 100 threatening letters to numerous individuals, including a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and a Supreme Court nominee.

Garrett Santillo, 43, appeared in federal court in Bridgeport where he pleaded guilty to one count of mailing threatening communications to a U.S. judge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Federal officials said between December 2021 and June 2022, Santillo mailed more than 100 letters “containing threatening and hateful statements, including threats of violence, to journalists, judges and other public officials and individuals in Connecticut and elsewhere, including a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and a Supreme Court nominee.”

According to federal officials, many of the letters included the message: “If you don’t obey what this letter says, you along with others including (redacted name) and people in Washington D.C. and everywhere and you. You all will be killed!!”

According to federal officials, Santillo has been convicted in federal court of mailing threatening letters three prior times. His most recent term of federal supervision was completed in August 2021.

Santillo is free on a $100,000 bond. His sentencing has not yet been scheduled.