A Dallas man has been indicted for allegedly threatening to kill multiple federal judges in Indiana, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced Wednesday.
A federal grand jury indicted Joseph Dale Lewis, 45, on August 26. Prosecutors said Lewis previously faced a July 31 criminal complaint accusing him of threatening federal officials with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against them over their official duties.
Judges Allegedly Threatened by Phone and Email
According to the Justice Department’s account, an individual identifying himself as Lewis allegedly called the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and said, “Two of your (Federal) judges are going to die today, get the [expletive] out the building.”
Prosecutors said the caller’s telephone number displayed the name Joseph Lewis.
Three judges in the Southern District of Indiana allegedly received an email the same day with the subject line “Trump was murdered.” The message referred to “hitting Federal judges in Indiana with airstrikes … and the FBI in Indiana,” according to prosecutors.
Investigators interviewed Lewis’ mother, who allegedly confirmed the telephone number used to call the court. She also identified an email address belonging to Lewis that closely resembled the address used to send the alleged threats, according to the Justice Department.
The federal release did not identify the judges who received the alleged communications.
Court Appearances Disrupted
Lewis’ initial appearance was scheduled for August 3 but was postponed after he allegedly made repeated outbursts directed at the judge and had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom, prosecutors said.
Authorities attempted to conduct the proceeding again August 5. Lewis allegedly disrupted that hearing with additional outbursts and threats directed at the judge and U.S. Marshals Service officers, resulting in his removal for a second time.
“Threats against federal judges and elected officials strike at the foundation of our republic, and will not be tolerated by this office,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. “This office is committed to standing up for our other branches of government, at both the state and federal level, so they can exercise their authorities under our constitution free from intimidation and violence.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said the agency treats threats against judges and elected officials seriously.
“The FBI thoroughly investigates anyone who threatens the life of a federal judge or elected official,” Rothrock said. “We take these offenses seriously and ask the public to report threatening behavior to law enforcement.”
Federal Judicial Threats Under Investigation
The indictment comes as federal authorities continue investigating hundreds of threats and other activities of concern involving judges.
U.S. Marshals Service data show the agency opened or worked 601 protective investigations during fiscal year 2026 through September 1. Those investigations included 425 recorded threats involving 315 individual federal judges.
The agency recorded 564 threats involving 396 individual judges during fiscal year 2025. A single judge may be the subject of multiple threats, and one investigation may involve more than one threatened person.
The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for protecting approximately 2,700 federal judges and more than 800 federal judicial facilities, according to the agency’s judicial-security overview.
The case follows continued debate over the legal distinction between protected expression and prosecutable threats. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, a federal judge ruled in a separate case that displaying “8647” by itself did not constitute a true threat.
Charge Carries Possible 10-Year Sentence
The federal statute governing threats against judges and other officials prohibits threats made with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against officials because of their duties.
If convicted, Lewis 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 of the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting it.
An indictment is an allegation and does not establish guilt. Lewis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Provided by Dallas Express
