Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Threats Against President

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to approximately 10 months imprisonment for using social media to issue violent threats against the President.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, between January 2 and 4, 2025, Tyler Leveque, 38, made a series of social media posts threatening to kill then President-Elect Trump. First, in a TikTok video posted on January 2, 2025, Leveque made statements indicating his disdain for several people and groups of people. Leveque stated these people should be “fucking scared,” that Leveque didn’t care if he (Leveque) died, and his willingness to die is what should frighten them the most. Leveque ended the video with the taunt “Run, run.”

Then, on January 3, 2025, Leveque made threats on the social media platform “X” (formerly “Twitter”) stating the following:

• “@realDonaldTrump I got my eyes on you sir! Cant wait for your Victory rally! The 19th right!? Lol you and your rich friends are dead no threat a promise”
• “Hey @celebrities @ceos @elonmusk @DonaldTrump @Joemarafa its too late for yall shouldve shut down tik tok a long time ago see u on the 19thfor war!”
• In response to a January 2, 2025, post from President-Elect Trump, Leveque wrote “Die”

Finally, on January 4, 2025, Leveque posted the following on Facebook:

• “Just bought my first gun bitches!”
• “Hey world hey America hey trump hey ceos get rich we are hunting you down! Hahaha I’m getting ready myself! Here we come it ends now”
• “The 19th we march the sts to our state offices and demand change they are threatening shutting down the power grid on us! Fuck them! If ur there see ya! If not! U disappoint me and wish u the best I more than likely will die or be thrown in jail but unlike u all I am fighting for what’s right!”

The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI contacted Leveque at his Albuquerque residence on January 6, 2025. During this encounter, law enforcement learned that Leveque was in the process of purchasing a firearm from an Albuquerque firearms dealer. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed Leveque paid for the firearm online on January 4, 2025, but had not yet finalized the purchase, nor taken possession of the gun. Although Leveque stated his belief that his online activity was constitutionally protected, law enforcement explained that his posts had crossed the line into threats, which are not protected under the First Amendment.

“Threatening violence against public officials is a serious federal offense, and this office will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Today’s sentencing serves as a clear reminder that such threats carry significant, lifelong consequences, including time spent incarcerated, a permanent felony record, the loss of firearm rights, and years of federal supervision. We hope others take note and choose a different path.”

“The sentencing today reminds all of us that threatening violence is not protected speech and the United States Secret Service will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue prosecution on all threats against our protectees and elected public officials.” said Ron Emmot, Resident Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Albuquerque Resident Office.

"The FBI wants to remind the public that we uphold and support every individual’s constitutional right to free speech. Free speech protects ideas and debates, but it does not and will never protect violence," said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Threatening speech that is directed toward a specific person or a group of people, whether you believe it to be anonymous or harmless, will be investigated by federal agents and we will hold them accountable."

Leveque pled guilty to making threats against the President and successors to the Presidency. Upon his release from prison, Leveque will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Resident Agent in Charge Ron Emmot of the U.S. Secret Service Albuquerque Resident Office, and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Albuquerque Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.