Mansfield Man Sentenced for Threatening President of the United States

BOSTON – A Mansfield man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with posting online threats to the President of the United States.

Andrew J. O’Keefe, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to time served, which was approximately six months, and two years of supervised release.

On May 13, 2015, an individual, later determined to be O’Keefe, posted a threat on a FBI website stating that he planned to kill President Barack Obama. On May 15, 2015, law enforcement officers attempted to interview O’Keefe regarding the posting; however, O’Keefe refused to speak with them outside of his residence. A search warrant executed at O’Keefe’s home and vehicle resulted in the recovery of over 100 weapons including swords, double-edged knives, hatchets, spears, an air gun and two laptop computers. O’Keefe was initially arrested on state charges and later charged federally.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service; and Mansfield Police Chief Ronald A. Sellon, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.