Las Vegas woman convicted of cyberstalking Federal Judges and Probation Officer
A Las Vegas woman has been convicted on federal cyberstalking charges for threatening two U.S. District Court judges and a probation officer involved in her previous criminal case, highlighting the serious consequences of online threats against court officials.
Federal jury finds Latonia Smith guilty on three counts
Latonia Smith, 31, was convicted of three counts of cyberstalking by a federal jury, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The conviction stems from threats she made against federal court officials while she was on supervised release from a previous 2021 conviction.
The targets of Smith’s cyberstalking campaign included U.S. District Judge Richard Franklin Boulware, who presided over her 2021 trial and sentenced her to 36 months in prison, and U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey, who oversaw Smith’s supervised release proceedings. Smith also threatened her probation officer, Shawn Mummey, who was supervising her release.
Pattern of threatening behavior began in 2021
Smith’s criminal history traces back to April 2021, when she was first convicted of five counts of mailing threatening communications through the U.S. Mail. That initial case involved threats Smith sent to her mother’s former supervisor and lawyers representing the mother’s former employer.
The underlying dispute originated from a 2017 incident at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, where Smith’s mother worked as a guest room attendant. According to court records, Smith’s mother was fired from her position after allegedly taking a small amount of money from a guest’s room. Smith subsequently targeted corporate lawyers who were defending the hotel in the employment matter.
Dangerous online research and threats
After being granted bail in early June 2022, Smith immediately returned to Las Vegas and began conducting disturbing online searches. Federal investigators found that she researched U.S. District Judge Boulware extensively, including searches about his wife, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Nancy Brune, and their family members.
Among the most alarming searches Smith conducted were queries for “judges should die,” “How to become a bomb maker,” “how to be a mass shooter,” “buying a gun,” and “ar 15 for sale,” according to the Department of Justice.
Escalating threats reference October 1 shooting
Smith’s behavior escalated over several weeks as her frustration with the federal court system intensified. On June 23, 2022, she sent a menacing email to her probation officer, Mummey, stating, “Some good advice: Life is short, society should be careful who they piss off.”
Particularly disturbing was Smith’s decision to include a link to a YouTube video compilation of cell phone footage from the October 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip – the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history that claimed 60 lives and wounded hundreds more at the Route 91 Harvest festival.
Threats of mass violence against Las Vegas
Over the following days, Smith sent a series of increasingly threatening emails that referenced potential mass violence. In one message, she wrote, “LET THE SHOW BEGIN. NEVADA IS GOING TO LOVE THIS!!!!!” The emails demonstrated that Smith had conducted detailed research on her targets, accurately identifying their personal information, hobby activities, and home addresses.
Federal prosecutors argued that Smith’s threats were credible and specific, showing clear intent to cause fear and demonstrating her ability to locate and potentially harm her targets.
Impact on Las Vegas Federal Court system
The case highlights the growing threat that federal judges and court personnel face nationwide, but particularly underscores concerns within Nevada’s federal court system. The targeting of Judge Boulware and Judge Dorsey, both prominent figures in Las Vegas’s federal courthouse, represents a serious breach of judicial security.
The connection to Las Vegas City Councilwoman Nancy Brune through her marriage to Judge Boulware also demonstrates how these threats can extend beyond the courthouse to impact local government officials and their families.
Federal cyberstalking laws carry serious penalties
Cyberstalking charges under federal law carry significant penalties, particularly when they involve threats against federal officials. The conviction demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the federal court system and ensuring that judges and court personnel can perform their duties without fear of retaliation or violence.
Smith’s case also illustrates how modern technology can be used to research, track, and threaten public officials, making cyberstalking a particularly dangerous form of criminal behavior in the digital age.
Awaiting sentencing
Smith remains in federal custody as she awaits sentencing on the cyberstalking convictions. The timing of her sentencing hearing has not yet been announced, but federal cyberstalking convictions typically carry substantial prison terms, especially for repeat offenders who target federal officials.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences facing those who attempt to intimidate or threaten members of the federal judiciary and court system, regardless of their grievances with previous legal proceedings.
This conviction represents another chapter in Las Vegas’s ongoing efforts to combat threats against public officials and maintain the security of its federal courthouse, which serves as a critical component of the justice system for Nevada and the broader region.
Image Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/las-vegas-woman-convicted-cyberstalking-060415252.html
Category: Local News, Breaking News, Politics
Subcategory: Criminal Convictions
Date: 06/24/2025
