Syracuse, N.Y. — A woman was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday for mailing threatening letters to an Upstate congressman, a federal judge and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Dennis J. Nelson, 52, mailed the letters from a state prison in New York, federal prosecutors from the Northern District of New York said in a news release.
Nelson pleaded guilty in March to three counts of mailing threat letters. She admitted to sending the letters in 2018 and 2019 to U.S. District Judge Thomas McAvoy in Binghamton, then-Congressman Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) to his Utica office and Schumer while being held in Mohawk Correctional Facility in Oneida County.
Nelson was serving time then for mailing other threatening letters, according to court documents.
In a sentencing memo filed to the court, Nelson’s lawyer said she has been diagnosed with a variety of mental health conditions over the years.
Nelson said sending more letters was a way to “stay in prison a lot longer because I think its safer than me going on the street and doing it all over again,” according to the memo.
Nelson’s lawyer, Lisa Peebles, directly attributes Nelson’s mental health conditions to her conduct.
Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950.
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