Brick Resident Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison Over Threatening Letters

A Brick resident will spend more than four years behind bars in a federal prison for sending a series of threatening e-mails to employees of five civil rights organizations.

Vincent Johnson, 61, was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and serve three years of supervision upon being released from federal prison after 50 months, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Johnson, who went by the Internet pseudonym “Devilfish,” pleaded guilty on Oct.  20, 2010, to 10 counts related to threatening conduct toward the victims, who included employees of the Latino Justice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund; the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; the National Council of La Raza; the League of United Latin American Citizens; and the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.

Johnson admitted in court that between November 2006 and February 2009, he emailed numerous threats to the victims to prevent them from aiding and encouraging Latinos to participate, without discrimination, in various protected activities, such as accessing the court system, voting, attending public schools and applying for employment.  Johnson admitted that his threats were motivated by race and national origin, federal officials said.

“Johnson admitted that he sent threatening emails to individuals and groups because of who they are and what they believe,” said Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, in a statement. “Violence or threats of violence based on race, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation are an intolerable violation of our most basic civil rights. Hiding behind the perceived anonymity of a computer screen to make hateful threats will provide no protection from prosecution.”

Johnson's e-mails ranged from bizarre allusions to a "network" he used to track those with whom he did not agree to outright death threats.

"Do you have a last will and testament?  If not, better get one real soon," one e-mail to a Latino group said.

Another read: “I am giving you fair warning that your presence and position is being tracked...you are dead meat...along with anyone else in your organization ... So be warned or we may find you in the obits."

The case was investigated by the Washington, D.C., and Newark, N.J., field offices of the FBI.

"Vincent Johnson’s intent was crystal clear: he wanted to strike fear in the hearts of Latino and Hispanic activists in hopes of dissuading their activity,” said Michael B. Ward, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Newark Field Office.