Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Department of Justice
Acting United States Attorney Gregg L. Sullivan Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. ARMY SOLDIER CHARGED WITH THREAT TO KILL KNOX COUNTY CHANCELLOR
KNOXVILLE, Tenn - A federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee returned a one-count indictment on July 21, 2010, charging Franklin Delano Jeffries II, 36, a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with transmitting in interstate commerce, via the publicly-available internet website “YouTube,” a communication containing a threat to injure and kill Knox County Chancellor Michael W. Moyers.
The indictment alleges that, on or before July 9, 2010, Jeffries threatened to kill Chancellor Moyers. Using the internet website “YouTube,” Jeffries posted a video of himself conveying this threat to Chancellor Moyers.
If convicted, Jeffries faces a term of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
