Authorities: Libertyville man sent threatening letters to federal judges

A Libertyville man has been charged with two counts of mailing threatening letters to federal judges in Texas and Florida.

James Lebuhn, 65, mailed letters on March 24, 2025, to U.S. District Court judges in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Pierce, Florida, according to the U.S. attorney’s office, Northern District of Illinois.

The letters were sent “for the purpose of making a true threat,” and knowing the letters would be viewed as such, according to a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

The charges also allege that when mailing the letters, Lebuhn recklessly disregarded the substantial risk that others would regard the communications as a threat.

The judges were not specifically named and the U.S. attorney’s office Northern District of Illinois, declined to disclose information regarding the content or nature of the letters or why they were singled out by LeBuhn while the case is pending.

Each count is a felony carrying up to five years in federal prison. Arraignment is set for March 26.

Charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Protective Service with the assistance of U.S attorney’s office for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida, according to a news release.

“The Chicago U.S. attorney’s office is committed to holding accountable anyone who seeks to intimidate and instill fear in members for the federal government, including the esteemed public servants on the bench,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.

“In today’s times of increasing threats of violence, these criminal charges should serve as a warning to others contemplating such behavior,” added Ryan Raybould, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.