Alabama man sentenced to prison for threatening Fani Willis, Georgia sheriff over Trump case

An Alabama man has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for threatening Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the county sheriff in connection with the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Arthur Ray Hanson II, 59, from Huntsville, left several menacing voicemails for Willis on August 6, including warnings such as:

- “Watch it when you’re going to the car at night, when you’re going into your house;”

- “I would be very afraid if I were you;” 

- “There’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable;”

- “When you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder;” and

- “What you put out there, [expletive], comes back at you ten times harder, and don’t ever forget it.”

He also left a message for Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, stating:

- “If you think you’re going to take a mugshot of my President Trump and it’s gonna be okay, you’re going to find out that some bad [expletive] is gonna happen to you;”

- “I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad;” and 

- “Whether you got a [expletive] badge or not, ain’t gonna help you none.”

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan K. Buchanan, emphasized that public servants must be able to carry out their duties without the threat of harm, adding, “Anyone who threatens to harm or intimidate them will face the consequences of their actions.” 

Sean Burke, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Atlanta, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Threats against public servants are not only illegal but also undermine our democratic process.”

Just weeks after Hanson’s threats, Trump was indicted by a Fulton County jury on charges related to alleged election interference in Georgia.

U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee sentenced Hanson to one year and nine months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay a $7,500 fine. He was convicted on July 3 after pleading guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats.