PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Michael D. Blackburn, former Pikeville police officer, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 60 months (or 5 years) in federal prison and three years supervised release, which he began serving immediately.

Blackburn, 32, of Pikeville, Ky., pleaded guilty in September of last year to count one of the indictment alleging he mailed a threatening letter in June of 2005 to a local doctor in Pikeville, Ky. demanding money. The letter, sent “anonymously,” contained specific references to the doctor, her mother and her children, and just how they were to be killed if $120,000 was not paid.

Amul R. Thapar, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky made the announcement after the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pikeville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Molloy represented the United States in the case.

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