WILLE L. HENRY, age 54, a resident of Gulfport, Mississippi, was charged in a two-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for transmitting interstate communications threatening Ochsner doctors announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

The indictment charges that HENRY sent emails in interstate commerce containing threats of physical violence to injure two doctors at Ochsner, who treated his grandson, prior to his death in 2005 from complications associated with a bowel obstruction. The email messages stated in part that HENRY planed to hit those that murdered his grandson with such a severe impact that history would be made. HENRY also sent an email to Ochsner with an intent to extort money and threaten to accuse the doctors of murder unless payment was made. HENRY claimed that he would be filing murder charges and seek the death penalty against the Ochsner doctors unless the hospital agreed to a settlement in the amount of $5 million dollars.

If convicted, HENRY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of seven (7) years, a fine of $500,000 and six (6) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Gulfport, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Matthew M. Coman and Julia K. Evans.