A Pennsylvania resident has pleaded guilty to making threats to assault and murder President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and other officials, according to the Justice Department announced on Monday.
Shawn Monper, 33, entered his plea in federal court to two counts of threats “with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, and retaliate against the officials and agents” as they carried out their official duties.
Monper has also accepted responsibility for other counts as part of the plea deal, according to officials.
The FBI and Butler Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the U.S. Attorney’s prosecution in the case.
The case initially began in April 2025 when the FBI’s National Threat Operations Section received an emergency alert about threatening posts on YouTube from a user identified as “Mr Satan.” Investigators traced the account back to Monper’s home in Butler County. Notably, Trump survived an attempted assassination in July 2024 during his campaign rally in Butler. Trump, who was running for president for a second term at the time, was shot and injured in his ear. The 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks was shot dead.
In the recent case, the FBI discovered that Monper obtained a firearm permit shortly after Trump’s inauguration, saying: “I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office" on his YouTube account and other threatening statements between Jan. 15 and April 5, according to prosecutors.
Monper also vowed to commit a “mass shooting” and claimed that he had been purchasing one gun every month since the election, in addition to body armor and ammo.
In addition to vowing to kill Trump, federal investigators also discovered Monper wanted to kill tech billionaire and Trump Elon Musk, along with ICE agents, saying: “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way…”
U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy set Monper’s sentencing for Aug. 12.
He faces a maximum total sentence on each count of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the defendant's prior criminal history.