Shippensburg Man Indicted for Threatening Former Presidential Candidate

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Steven Hartford, age 37, a resident of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on June 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury for threatening a former presidential candidate.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that, at relevant times, Hartford accessed, controlled, and used TikTok social-media account “thealex13one13.”  The Indictment further alleges that on or about July 21, 2024, a media outlet published a 17 second video on its own TikTok account. The video showed the Presidential Candidate with a caption, “Will [the Candidate] be the next Democratic nominee?” At approximately 7:32 p.m., “thealex13one13” commented, “I will assassinate her if she runs for pres.” 

The Indictment alleges that, on or about the same date, the same media outlet published a 12 second video on its TikTok account.  The video showed the Presidential Candidate with a caption, “could [the Candidate] replace Joe Biden?” At approximately 7:56 p.m., “thealex13one13” commented, “I will assassinate her.”  Thereafter, on or about July 22, 2024, “thealex13one13” allegedly made other comments on TikTok about and directed toward the Presidential Candidate, including: “22 250 coming her way”; “5.56 for her”; and “5.56 waiting for her.”

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.  Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.       

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