Tampa dentist arrested after making more than 100 threats online, FBI says

A Tampa dentist accused of sending online threats to several people, including a politician, was arrested Tuesday in Pinellas County.

Federal investigators said Richard Kantwill sent hundreds of online messages threatening harm or death, even after FBI agents told him to stop. Kantwill, 60, faces three counts related to interstate transmission of threat of injury.

In a motion seeking a pretrial detention hearing, state prosecutors urged a federal judge to hold Kantwill without bail until his trial begins, saying he poses a danger to the community.

Court records also outlined some of the threats Kantwill made. The redacted text messages and emails contain apparent profanity, including what appear to be racist and anti-gay slurs.

In a text message, Kantwill threatened to kill someone he identified as a “fake reverend.”

“Since you’re the anti-Christ bastard, we’re going to kill you.” Torture first, then death,” Kantwill’s text reads.

The victim installed nearly $4,500 worth of surveillance cameras “because of her genuine fear of Kantwill,” according to court records.

A private message sent by Kantwill via Instagram to another person reads, “I can't wait to shoot you in the ghetto ass in the street,” followed by a racial slur.

In September 2019, he wrote to a victim: “God bless the great President Trump and his family. Fuck you and yours. Hire extra security…you’ll need it.

The following month, the FBI interviewed Kantwill and told him to stop sending messages.

“Despite the FBI’s warning, Kantwill spent the next 10 months sending threats to more than 40 victims via social media and email,” the motion states.

In February, Kantwill threatened a politician via Facebook whose name was not mentioned in court records, according to an ongoing FBI investigation.

“Take note, because (expletive) liberals like you are getting raped in the alleys,” the message said. “You are our number 1 target, you are degenerating (expletive).”

Kantwill also bragged about his gun collection in Facebook posts, saying he had a large collection that he would “NEVER give back,” records show. Investigators said he was looking to buy “automatic and highly illegal” firearms from another Facebook user.

The dentist wrote that he “enjoyed the violence of his military service,” declaring on Facebook that he “enjoyed creating widows and orphans.”

In 2007, Kantwill broke the terms of an agreement to voluntarily retire from the practice of medicine after relapsing under alcohol while battling his addiction, according to Florida Department of Health disciplinary records .

He stopped attending mandatory group sessions and provided dental services during the relapse. Kantwill received a reprimand and a $3,000 fine from the Board of Dentistry.

Kantwill's philosophy of care states that “patients expect to be treated with kindness, compassion and personalized care, and that's what you can expect every time you visit our practice,” according to its company page. rating on Healthgrades.com.

Records show its license is active until February 2026.

Kantwill was booked into a Pinellas County jail Tuesday evening and is being held without bond. No attorney was listed for Kantwill as of Thursday afternoon. Efforts to reach those who know him have been in vain.