A man from Albuquerque has pleaded guilty to making threats of violence against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico confirmed this week.
A man from Albuquerque has pleaded guilty to making threats of violence against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico confirmed this week. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI UPI
Sept. 5 (UPI) -- A man from Albuquerque has pleaded guilty to making threats of violence against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico confirmed this week.
Tyler Leveque now faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to making the threats on social media, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Leveque admitted to making the threats during interviews with agents from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service.
The 37-year-old argued the multiple videos and statements constituted free speech.
The threats were made between January 2 and 4, just over two weeks before Trump took office for his second term.
"You and your rich friends are dead no threat a promise," one of the threats states, according to the U.S. Attorney's statement.
Leveque specifically mentions a rally planned for January 19, the day before Trump's inauguration.
Authorities said Leveque had also recently purchased a firearm but had not yet received it when he was detained.
A judge will decide Leveque's exact sentence.
He also faces up to three years supervision one any prison term