A dentist in Florida accused of sending threatening messages to multiple victims, including an election official, has pleaded guilty, according to a press release dated November 25 from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs.
Dr. Richard Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, FL, pleaded guilty to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. For each count, the dentist, who was charged in October with threatening public figures, including an election official, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, according to the press release.
"Today's guilty plea is the next step in holding Richard Kantwill accountable for his almost year-long campaign of terror, sending more than 100 violent threats to over 40 victims including various public figures and an election official," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in the press release.
Between September 2019 and July 2020, Kantwill allegedly sent over 100 threatening messages to various public figures via Facebook and Instagram, email, and text. He is accused of sending threats to a religious leader, author, and television personality, according to the release.
Between April 2022 and April 2024, Kantwill reportedly sent at least seven additional threats to four public figures via Facebook, including one to an election official in another state on February 9.
Kantwill, who operated a practice in Sun City Center, FL, that is now listed as permanently closed, is accused of sending the following message: "You are a degenerate c— and you are now the target of our own investigation. Take note because liberal t—s like you get raped in alleys, by really big black guys that serve our cause. So, you t—s are going to get raped by at least 5 n—s, and do nothing. You are the number 1 target, you degenerate t—s," according to the release.
%20nov7.3oLpzv9fRI.jpg?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=100&w=100&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70)
%20nov7.3oLpzv9fRI.jpg?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&w=250&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70)
