A New York man was indicted on five counts, including one count of making a threat against the president, for threatening President Donald Trump and three other people.
Jared Marc Brown, 23, of Lockport, threatened to kill Trump on March 25, according to the Department of Justice.
The defendant is accused of penning a letter and sending it to a U.S. Secret Service special agent. In the letter, Brown wrote from prison, “I’m [] gonna kill Donald Trump with Anthrax when I get out.”
On the same day, authorities said Brown threatened to assault and kill U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo, his wife, and a Secret Service agent.
Jared Brown was accused of threatening to kill multiple people, including @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/6L1Encq6BG
— News 4, WIVB-TV (@news4buffalo) May 8, 2019
“The defendant intended to retaliate against Judge Vilardo and the Secret Service special agent on account of the performance of their official duties,” the department stated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Tokash is handling the case.
In addition to a count of making a threat against the president, Brown was charged with two counts of retaliating against a United States judge, one count of retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer, and one count of mailing a threatening communication.
If convicted of all charges, Brown would face up to 10 years in prison.
It’s the third time Brown is facing federal charges related to threats against a president after authorities said he made a 911 call in 2016 during which he threatened Trump and another 911 call the year prior in which he threatened to the president at the time, Barack Obama.
Brown pleaded guilty in 2016 to knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of and inflict bodily harm upon the president of the United States, reported the Niagara Gazette.
After making the initial threat during a 911 call, he was visited at the Niagara County Jail by a Secret Service agent. During a conversation with the agent, Brown again threatened to kill Obama, using a racial slur.
Brown also told the agent that he watched shows on serial killers and assassins, had looked up how to build a bomb on the Internet, and had bought a gun and shot at people but added that he did not hit anyone with his gunfire and that he had thrown the gun away.
Brown was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the call about Obama, reported WBKW. He was sentenced in 2017 to two years in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release.
After making the threat against Trump, U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brown ordered Brown to undergo mental treatment for borderline personality traits, reported PennLive.
The Bureau of Prisons conducted an examination of Brown and a forensic psychologist diagnosed him with a disease that prevented him from assisting in his defense. The disease was not specified.
A sentencing memorandum filed by his attorney stated he suffered from attention deficit disorder, began consuming alcohol at age 13, abused drugs, and exhibited inappropriate behavior as early as kindergarten.
It also said that he attempted suicide in prison in 2016.
