Texas man gets 30 months in prison for stalking Taylor Swift

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV/AP) -- A federal judge has sentenced an Austin, Texas man to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to stalking and sending threatening letters and emails to pop star Taylor Swift's former record label.

According to records filed in federal court, Eric Swarbrick was given the sentence during a hearing Wednesday in Nashville. The terms of the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release, were agreed on by prosecutors in a plea agreement that Swarbrick entered in 2019.

The complaint said Swarbrick sent more than 40 letters and emails to Big Machine Label Group in 2018, asking the CEO to introduce him to Swift. Over time the letters became more violent and threatening. On three occasions Swarbrick drove to Nashville to personally deliver them.

The Houston Chronicle reports Swarbrick drove nearly 900 miles from Austin to Nashville three separate times to deliver his messages personally. He admitted to “wandering the offices” during these trips.

Swarbrick was arrested by Nashville police on August 2, 2018 while trying to gain access to the building during one of his personal trips to BMLG.

In some of the letters he sent, Swarbrick expressed his desire to "rape and kill Taylor Swift," and in one letter said "he would kill himself" in front of the music label's CEO and staff, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said.

MORE:

• Texas Man Facing Federal Charges After Threatening Letters Sent to Taylor Swift's Record Label - U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee

• Texas man sentenced to prison for stalking Taylor Swift - WZTV