Marc H. Silverman, the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has reported the sentencing of Garrett Santillo, aged 45, from Hamden. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven has sentenced Santillo to one day of imprisonment, time he has already served, coupled with three years of supervised release. Santillo was convicted for mailing numerous threatening letters to individuals both within Connecticut and beyond.
Court documents reveal that between December 2021 and June 2022, Santillo dispatched more than 100 letters laden with threats and hateful language. The letters targeted journalists, judges, and other public figures, including a United States Supreme Court Justice and a nominee for the same court. Certain letters reportedly contained threats such as, “If you don’t obey what this letter says, you along with others including [name redacted] and people in Washington DC and everywhere and you. You all will be killed!!”
Santillo's arrest occurred on July 6, 2022. On June 1, 2023, he admitted guilt to one charge of mailing threatening communications to a U.S. Judge. This marks Santillo’s fourth federal conviction for sending such letters.
Judge Bolden mandated that Santillo adhere to mental health treatment while on supervised release and permitted the U.S. Probation Office to monitor his electronic devices.
The investigation was a collective effort by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Connecticut State Police, among other law enforcement agencies. The offices of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney, the New Haven State’s Attorney, and the Litchfield State’s Attorney also contributed. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.