Memphis Man Convicted of Making Threats to Murder Federal Prosecutors and a Federal Judge

Nashville, TN - Justin Deshun Stiger, 33, of Memphis, Tennessee was convicted this week of making threats to murder two Memphis federal prosecutors and a Memphis federal judge after a jury trial in Memphis, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee was recused from the case because two of that office's prosecutors were victims and the matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Middle District of Tennessee.

"Threats to law enforcement and the federal judiciary are not just attacks on those individuals. They are threats to the justice system itself. We take those extremely seriously, and we will hold those who make them accountable for their actions," said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. "Federal courtrooms are no place for violent threats, and public servants who are dedicated to serving our communities need to be able to go to work without worrying about someone threating to kill them."

According to the evidence presented at trial, Stiger was set to be sentenced in federal court in Memphis on April 16, 2025, for his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy when he began threatening the prosecutors. Witnesses testified that Stiger, who has a prior conviction for a crime of violence and ties to a criminal street gang, pointed at federal prosecutors and said they were "going to die" because of the sentence they intended to recommend. When U.S. District Judge Mark Norris began having Stiger removed from the courtroom after his threats to the prosecutors, Stiger then threatened the judge saying "You're gonna die too, judge." When Judge Norris asked if Stiger was threatening him, Stiger responded: "It ain't no threat. It's a promise." According to the evidence at trial, Stiger then told a Deputy U.S. Marshal investigating the matter that "whoever gonna play with my life is gonna die." Stiger went on to say, in a recorded statement, referring to the prosecutors and the judge: "I ain't playing bro. Like they gonna die."

Stiger is set to be sentenced on June 18, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Memphis. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for each of the three counts of conviction.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle of the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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