'You Better Not Fall Asleep': Man Sent Threatening Email To Pritzker, State Police Say

CRETE, IL — A 49-year-old Crete man has been arrested in connection with a threatening email authorities say he sent to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, state police said Thursday.

On Jan. 9, a "message of a threatening nature" was sent to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Office of Constituent Affairs from an email associated with Michael Dascenzo.

The message—sent via the "Voice an Opinion" section of the Governor's website—alluded to having the Governor shot, according to Will County court documents.

"You better NOT know who the **** I am, you fat, ugly pervert stalker, or you better not FALL THE **** ASLEEP," the message reads. "Leave the state of Illinois before I have you shot in the ****ing FACE. I'm on my way to Springfield; you left. One one thousand..."

An investigation was conducted, and on Feb. 25, agents obtained an arrest warrant and took Dascenzo into custody without incident. According to court documents, Dascenzo told police that years prior, he had a reported a complaint with his neighbor who was an associate of Pritzker's. Nothing was done about the complaint, he said. He claimed the message was an attempt to defend himself against online threats.

Dascenzo confirmed the message and its address of origin as his, court documents state, and said he should have used "less explicit material."

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Dascenzo with one count of threat to a public official and one count of harassment by electronic communications. Both are felonies.

Dascenzo told police he did not intend to harm Pritzker, and that he does not possess any firearms.

A motion to deny pre-trial release for Dascenzo was denied Thursday. He was ordered released on the condition he "refrain from engaging in threatening posts to any individual." Dascenzo is being represented by a public defender. His next court date is March 13.