Student sentenced for threats vs. Pres.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A former Purdue graduate student found guilty of making threats against President Bush has received his sentence.

38-year-old Vikram S. Buddhi of West Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge James T. Moody to 57 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release.

Buddhi, a former graduate student at Purdue University, had been found guilty of making internet-based threats to the President and other government officials and their immediate families.

Buddhi had also been found guilty for an internet-based threat to destroy buildings by fire or explosives. Buddhi was convicted by a jury in June, 2007 on all counts in an eleven count indictment.

The United States Secret Service received information that a person posted a threatening message directed towards President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, First Lady Laura Bush, Second Lady Lynne Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on a financial web-site message board. That posting and other related postings were eventually traced back to Buddhi.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.