Lexington man convicted of threatening to kill federal prosecutor

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Mexican National in Lexington was convicted on charges of threatening to murder an Assistant U.S. Attorney and solicitation to murder an officer of the United States, according to federal prosecutors.

43-year old Edgar Villa-Castaneda is still in federal custody.  He’s scheduled to be sentenced next January.

Villa-Castaneda was found guilty, following a two-day trial, of both charges in a two-count indictment returned on February 2, 2017. According to information presented at trial, on about August 5, 2015, and September 22, 2015, in Woodford County, Villa-Castaneda threatened to murder Assistant United States Attorney Rob Duncan, on account of the performance of Duncan’s official duties, and solicited a fellow inmate at the Woodford County Detention Center (WCDC) to murder Assistant United States Attorney Duncan.

“The rule of law requires public servants of character to enforce that law,” stated United States Attorney Russell Coleman. “I am grateful to the men and women of the jury in Lexington, who through today’s verdict reinforced that any serious threat to the safety and security of our prosecutors puts our entire community at risk and will not be permitted in our commonwealth .”