Furious meltdown over tax refund dispute: Georgia man threatened to kill Florida officer, gets hefty prison sentence for a moment of anger
Florida – A moment of anger, fueled by frustration over a tax issue, has now led to a federal prison sentence for a young Georgia man whose threats crossed a dangerous legal line.
Stephane Brice, 23, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after admitting to making violent interstate threats against a federal law enforcement officer.
According to the Department of Justice, The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber following Brice’s guilty plea on January 6, 2026, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The case traces back to March 18, 2025, when Brice contacted the Internal Revenue Service over a dispute involving a tax refund.
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What began as a routine complaint quickly escalated. During the call, Brice became increasingly agitated, ultimately issuing chilling threats that he would go to an IRS office and kill and behead employees.
That alarming exchange triggered swift attention from federal authorities. The following day, a federal law enforcement officer reached out to Brice as part of an official investigation. Instead of de-escalating, the situation intensified.
Court records show that Brice responded with a barrage of profanity and explicit threats, including statements about beheading the officer and burning down his home with his children inside.
Such threats, particularly when directed at federal officials and communicated across state lines, fall under serious federal offenses.
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Investigators moved quickly to document the calls and build the case, underscoring the government’s stance that threats against public servants, especially those involving violence, will be treated with urgency and severity.
The investigation was led by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration in coordination with the IRS. Their work ultimately resulted in federal charges that carried significant legal consequences. The prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler III and Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Milliron, who brought the case forward in federal court.
Federal officials have consistently emphasized that threats, even those made over the phone, are not dismissed as empty statements when they involve credible harm or target government personnel.
While the incident began with a dispute over a tax refund, it ultimately evolved into a criminal matter that placed lives at risk, at least in the eyes of the law.
With the sentence now imposed, the case stands as a clear example of how federal authorities respond when threats escalate beyond rhetoric into criminal conduct, reinforcing a broader message about accountability and the protection of public officials.
