A man from Middle Georgia with a history of criminal behavior including arson and making death threats has been sentenced to a federal prison stretch for mailing threatening communications. Travis Leroy Ball, 56, from Barnesville, faced U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on June 12 and received the maximum sentence of 60 months, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In addition to his prison term, Ball is mandated three years of supervised release following his incarceration. Notably, Ball is not eligible for parole.
"We will not tolerate threats of violence against public servants and other similar criminal intimidations that disturb the peace and order," U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary asserted in a statement. He further emphasized that protecting individuals is a primary concern for their office and law enforcement allies. This sentencing comes after Ball's guilty plea on January 19 to one count of mailing threatening communications, culminating a series of threats directed at government personnel at various levels, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta's Macon office, highlighted the gravity of Ball's actions, stating, "Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process." He added that Ball's persistent criminal activities underscore his indifference towards rehabilitation and other people's safety. Gibbs expressed hope that the sentence would convey to Ball the seriousness with which the FBI regards his criminal behavior, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, Ball's string of threatening correspondences began with a letter seized on March 10, 2023, which claimed to be from a U.S. Secret Service agent and demanded dismissal of charges in a current federal case. The FBI's investigation revealed that the letters - addressed to various entities including the U.S. District Court in Valdosta, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office - contained threats of murder, arson, and forged claims of high-level security clearance. Ball's DNA was matched to the letters, and the materials used to craft these messages were found in his cell.
