Barnesville man sentenced to 5 years for mailing threatening communications

Travis Leroy Ball receives maximum sentence for mailing threatening letters

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Travis Leroy Ball, a 56-year-old Barnesville resident, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on Wednesday for mailing threatening communications, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal handed down the maximum sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Ball, who has a history of arson and sending death threats, pleaded guilty on January 19 to one count of mailing threatening communications.

He is not eligible for parole.

Ball sent multiple threatening letters while in federal custody. On March 10, 2023, he mailed a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell, posing as a U.S. Secret Service agent and demanding dismissal of his charges and release from custody. In March and May 2023, he sent letters to the U.S. District Court in Valdosta and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., threatening to kill employees and their families and to burn down property. In July 2023, Ball mailed a letter to the Upson County Sheriff’s Office, pretending to be an FBI agent and demanding his photos and personal information be deleted from jail records.

The FBI, with assistance from multiple federal and local agencies, investigated Ball’s actions. Agents matched Ball’s DNA to the threatening letters and found writing materials and stamps in his cell. The investigation involved the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office.

“We will not tolerate threats of violence against public servants and other similar criminal intimidations that disturb peace and order,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “Travis Ball has threatened government workers at every level and even their families. Keeping people safe is the highest priority of our office and our law enforcement partners.”

Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta’s Macon Office, said threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process.

“While Mr. Ball’s continued criminal conduct clearly illustrates his lack of concern and compassion for others, it also illustrates his unwillingness to be rehabilitated,” Gibbs said. “Hopefully, this additional sentence will finally send the message that the FBI will not tolerate his hate fueled hoaxes and will continue to hold him accountable.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the government.