Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening President Trump on Social Media
An individual from Albuquerque has been sentenced to prison for making violent threats against President Donald Trump through social media. Tyler Leveque, 38, received a 10-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to issuing threats to the president. Leveque posted videos and messages on social media threatening to harm Trump and others at a rally, leading law enforcement to intervene.
Leveque's posts on social media included threats to kill Trump and his associates, with one post mentioning a planned rally on the 19th. Despite arguing that his posts were protected under freedom of speech, Leveque was informed by law enforcement that his threats were considered true threats and not covered by the First Amendment. He also mentioned purchasing a gun, although investigators confirmed that he had not yet received it.
Following the investigation by the Secret Service and the FBI, Leveque was found at his residence on January 6. He faced a potential five-year prison sentence but was ultimately sentenced to 10 months in prison and will serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his sentence. The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico handled the prosecution of the case, emphasizing the serious consequences of making such threats.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison highlighted the lifelong repercussions of issuing threats, including incarceration, a felony record, loss of firearm rights, and federal supervision. The Secret Service reiterated that threats of violence are not protected speech and will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. The FBI also emphasized the distinction between free speech and threatening speech, stating that threats directed at individuals or groups will be taken seriously and investigated by federal agents.