A Cotopaxi couple was arrested Thursday after allegedly mailing threatening communications to a federal bankruptcy judge.
According to a press release Friday from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kansas City Division, Danny Lee Barker, 68, and Valerie Ann Barker, 67, were arrested on a federal criminal indictment charging them with three counts of mailing threatening communications.
The indictment alleges that from January 2020 to April 2020, “Danny and Valerie Barker with the intent to extort from any person any money or other thing of value, did knowingly deposit and cause to be delivered any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person, namely, a member of the federal judiciary in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 876(b) and 2.”
Deputies from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by deputies of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a car stop at 3:45 p.m. Thursday and the Barkers were taken into custody without incident.
Special Agent in Charge Timothy Langan commends the Fremont County and Custer County sheriff’s offices for their assistance with this investigation, the press release states.
Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper said he is unable to comment further as this is an FBI case and is ongoing.
This case was investigated by FBI Wichita, Kan., and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office District of Kansas.
