Niagara County Man Arrested, Charged With Threatening The President

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Jared Brown, 18, of Niagara County, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with threatening the President of the United States. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Campana, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on September 6, 2015, the defendant called the Lockport City Police Department through the 911 Emergency Call Center and made oral threats over the telephone. During this call, Brown stated to an employee that he would kill President Obama. The complaint further alleges that when a Secret Service Agent asked the hypothetical question what Brown would do if the President walked into the interview room, Brown said he would shoot him.

The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder. He is being held and is due back in court on October 22, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge C. Todd Laster.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.