A state inmate who claims to be a high-ranking member of a “highly known white supremacist group” has been sentenced to federal prison for threatening the Mobile County district attorney with a “very horrible and painful death.”

William Terry Holmes, who is serving a 20-year sentence for domestic violence and violating the state’s sex offender registry law at Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery County, pleaded guilty earlier this year to mailing threatening communication to DA Keith Blackwood.

A federal judge this week sentenced the 54-year-old Holmes to five years in prison, according to Middle District of Alabama Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson. Additionally, Holmes was ordered to pay $26,185.70 in restitution.

Holmes sent a threatening letter to Blackwood’s office on March 19, 2024.

It stated: “i [sic] am personally writing you to inform you we know where you live. You and your family’s every move is being watched. As a high ranked [sic] member of a highly known white supremacist group, I’m lettingyou [sic] know now that one of my own M. Perez has been sentenced to the death penalty.”

The “M. Perez” Holmes was referring to, according to court records, is Marco Perez, who was convicted in early 2024 of the capital murder of Mobile Police Officer Sean Tuder.

“I’m gonna make damn sure you, your family and the judge suffer’s [sic] severe consequences,” the letter continued. “I promise you soon real soon you, your family and the judge will receive my death penalty and yalls lives will end in a very horrible and painful death. Don’t try me you will lose just like me ex-wife [redacted] who was buried alive [redacted] in lrvington.”

On March 22, 2024, agents interviewed Holmes.

During the interview, Holmes admitted to writing the letter and claimed he had associates watching the district attorney, warning that the prosecutor had only hours to live.

Security precautions had already been taken to protect the district attorney and his family.

“No one who serves the cause of justice, or the families of those who serve, should ever be threatened for doing their job,” Davidson said. “Our system depends on the courage of prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officers. Threats against them are attacks on the rule of law itself and cannot be tolerated.”

The FBI in Mobile investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted Holmes.

“There is no place in our justice system for threats of violence – especially leveled at officers of the court,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley.