In a stark revelation of the escalating threats against judges, 24-year-old Jeziah Guagno from Boynton Beach, Florida, was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of probation by a federal judge. Guagno had pleaded guilty to mailing a threatening letter to U.S. District Judge Harvey Erwin Schlesinger in 2021.
The handwritten letter, crafted to appear as if sent by a cellmate, contained explicit threats, including sexual assault against Judge Schlesinger’s wife, murder, and the beheading of the judge, with body parts intended for his children.
The FBI, utilizing DNA from saliva found on the sealed envelope, successfully traced the threatening letter back to Guagno. The case sheds light on a disturbing trend of increasing threats against judges, with the U.S. Marshals Service reporting a surge from 926 incidents in 2015 to a staggering 4,511 in recent years.
Guagno, known for distinctive facial tattoos and flames inked on his neck, faced delays in his case due to serious mental health issues. Despite pleading guilty and citing a lack of medication at the time, he expressed no recollection of sending the threatening letter.
Prosecutors sought up to 46 months in prison for Guagno, but U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. settled on a 37-month term, accompanied by a $100 fine. Due to adverse weather conditions in northern Florida, Judge Schlesinger attended the sentencing by phone.
Guagno, scheduled to undergo a substance abuse program and mental health treatment, is prohibited from any contact with the victim or the victim’s family.
The sentencing has unveiled Guagno’s troubled history, including allegations of assault and solitary confinement. His legal journey involved claims of assault by prison guards and unsuccessful attempts to initiate investigations. Competency evaluations and a psychological assessment, declaring him incompetent for a time, underscore the serious mental health concerns surrounding Guagno.
In 2019, Guagno accused a Florida prison guard of assault while in restraints. In 2021, he warned Judge Schlesinger about reopening his case, making veiled threats. The FBI uncovered an attempt to frame another inmate for the threatening letter. This sentencing serves as a reflection of broader challenges within the judicial system, particularly in handling threats against judges.
