A man from Center Line, Michigan, has been handed a 10-month federal prison sentence for making alarming online threats targeting Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and DTE Energy shareholders. Steven Conway, 40, pleaded guilty in October to two counts of interstate communications – threats, U.S. District Court in Detroit confirmed. His sentence also includes two years of supervised release following his incarceration.
The Nature of the Threats
Federal prosecutors detailed a pattern of concerning behavior from Conway. On January 23, 2025, Conway contacted a DTE Energy call center in Milwaukee, issuing a chilling warning that shareholders would be "targeted for assassination." He reportedly called back the same day, escalating his language to state the company would be "hunted down" with members assassinated. This prompted the sentencing memorandum from prosecutors, which recommended a prison term between 10 and 16 months.
Beyond the threats to DTE, Conway also made multiple calls to the FBI between 2022 and 2024, expressing grievances against Governor Whitmer. Further compounding the case, on January 27, 2025, Conway allegedly posted on GROWLR, an Ohio-based app, under the username "Meatball," declaring that Governor Whitmer was "marked for assassination."
Conway's Motivations and Admissions
During proceedings, Conway admitted to contacting DTE out of frustration over reports of pollution allegedly created by the company in Michigan. While he acknowledged making past statements about Governor Whitmer, he stated he didn't recall the specific threat. Prosecutors highlighted his own admissions, noting he described himself as someone who "acts like a psychopath" and is a "loud mouth." He also speculated that law enforcement interest stemmed from a previous post where he expressed a desire to "blow up the world because he hated it so much."
A History of Troubling Behavior
The case against Conway is not isolated to these recent events. Prosecutors revealed a prior conviction in October 2024 for making harassing calls to the 37th District Court in Warren, where he threatened to kill a judge if he had to appear in court. He pleaded guilty to this threat. Additionally, Conway was accused of calling Roseville police with threats to shoot officers. In a conversation with an officer who called him back, Conway reportedly identified himself and admitted to using threats to achieve his goals, expressing frustration at his inability to reach Governor Whitmer directly.
Mental Health and Legal Defense
Attorneys for both the prosecution and defense acknowledged Conway's long-standing and serious mental health conditions. His defense attorney, Daniel Dena, emphasized that the case involved "words that were frightening, unacceptable, and taken seriously by everyone who heard them." However, Dena argued that these words stemmed from "a man whose mental illness turned fear, paranoia, and instability into reckless speech, not calculated violence."
Dena advocated for a sentence of time served and supervised release, with a strong emphasis on mandatory mental health treatment. He detailed Conway's history, including diagnoses of major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and personality disorder. Conway had received counseling and medication as a teenager and experienced periods in various mental health facilities. Dena described Conway's adult life as a struggle to function with "severe, largely untreated psychiatric symptoms," compounded by a traumatic upbringing and a battle with cancer.
The Sentencing and Future
Despite his mental health challenges, prosecutors argued that Conway had made limited efforts to manage his conditions, even while receiving services and interacting with law enforcement. His continued threatening behavior, including disturbing actions while on pretrial release, was noted. The court ultimately sentenced Conway to 10 months in federal prison. Upon release, he will be subject to two years of supervised release, which will include a mandatory mental health evaluation and participation in recommended treatment programs.
The case underscores the complex intersection of public safety, threats against officials and corporations, and the challenges presented by individuals with severe mental health issues. While the law rightly condemns threats, the defense highlighted the need for a humane response to the individual behind the words, advocating for treatment as a crucial component of justice.
