An Illinois resident has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for sending threatening messages to public officials in Maine. The sentencing took place on October 30, 2025, at the U.S. District Court in Bangor.
Massimo Frangella, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this year to making threatening interstate communications. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Court documents show that Frangella sent seven identical emails from his account to various Maine public officials. Each email had the subject line: “You’re going to die.” The body of the message included further threats: “I’m going to kill you and all of your child raping friends.” Authorities determined that he targeted these individuals because they were public officials.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with support from Maine Capitol Police.
“Massimo Frangella used words as his weapon, sending threatening messages to Maine public officials whose views he didn’t agree with,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Now, he’ll spend the next six months behind bars in federal prison. Please don’t let keyboard courage short-circuit your future. There are productive ways to express your anger and desire for change, but threats of violence will never be one of them.”
According to an editor’s note provided by authorities, the press release was delayed due to a federal government shutdown and was published after normal operations resumed.
