A mail carrier from Iowa was sentenced to 37 years in jail Tuesday, after he sent bunk pipe bombs alongside letters signed "The Bishop," in efforts to raise the value of shares he had bought.
48-year-old John Tomkins was stoic and expressionless when he received the sentencing at his trial in Chicago.
Before marshals took the handcuffed man out of the court room, Tomkins smiled at his attorney, who patted his shoulder.
Judge Robert Dow thanked Tomkins for assuming responsibility in the matter after the suspect fessed up, but claimed that Tomkins "engaged in a reign of terror," by sending letters that contained dud bombs to investment firms.
"'Horrific' is the single best word I've heard to describe this crime," Down said, according to the Associated Press. "'Terrifying' is another good word."
In his testimony, Tomkins said he started signing his letters "The Bishop" after he read a novel featuring a criminal who left a chess piece as sly identification.
His letters bore the foreboding words, "BANG! YOU'RE DEAD."
Tomkins also said the sole reason the advisers who received the letters weren't deceased was because a single wire wasn't hooked properly.
Authorities have spent the last two years trying to find "The Bishop," finally nabbing Tomkins in 2007 when they traced his stock market records back from the two firms he mentioned in his letters, 3COM Corp. and Navarre Corp.
In 12 letters, Tomkins threatened to kill members of the corporations, their families and neighbors unless they raised the stock prices.
Tomkins was convicted last year on 12 counts, including use of a destructive device while mailing threatening communications, which comes with a mandatory minimum of 30 years in jail.
Tomkins' prosecutors initially suggested he receive around 45 years.
Francis Lipuma, Tomkins' lawyer, said that the accused is a 'family man.'
"He was respected in this community," he said, adding that he will appeal the convictions and portions of the sentencing.
