No Jail For Beverly Man Who Sent White Powder To Trump's Sons

BOSTON — A Beverly man found guilty of mailing letters filled with white powder to president Donald Trump's sons and threatening to shoot the prosecutor and judge in Michelle Carter's texting-suicide case has avoided prison. Daniel Frisiello, 25, was sentenced Friday to five years of probation.

U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel Gorton chose not to give Frisiello a prison sentence, citing the defendant's developmental disabilities. He agreed with Frisiello's lawyer, who said his client wouldn't respond well to prison.

The first year of probation is required to be served under house arrest with Frisiello being required to wear an ankle monitor. Frisiello was also ordered to pay restitution and is prohibited from contacting any of the victims.

Federal prosecutors recommended a three-year prison sentence. In court documents, prosecutors argued that despite the defendant's developmental disabilities, he committed the crimes with "planning purpose, and the intent to avoid capture."

Frisiello has been under house arrest since March 1, 2018. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of mailing a threat to injure the person of another and six counts of false information and hoaxes.

Besides Trump's sons, and the judge and prosecutors from the Carter case, Frisiello also pleaded guilty to sending threatening letters to police officers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and public officials throughout the country.