An Albuquerque resident, Tyler Leveque, 38, has been sentenced to about 10 months in federal prison for making violent threats against President-Elect Donald Trump through various social media platforms in early January 2025.
Court documents reveal that between January 2 and January 4, Leveque posted several threatening messages online. On TikTok, he made statements expressing hostility toward multiple individuals and groups, declaring that they should be afraid and implying his willingness to die. The video ended with the words “Run, run.”
On January 3, Leveque used X (formerly Twitter) to address then President-Elect Trump directly: “@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.” In other posts, he mentioned several public figures and stated: “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!” He also replied to a post from Trump with the message “Die.”
The following day on Facebook, Leveque wrote: “Just bought my first gun bitches!” He continued: “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.” Another post stated: “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!”
Federal agents from the U.S. Secret Service and FBI visited Leveque at his Albuquerque home on January 6. They discovered that he had paid online for a firearm from a local dealer but had not completed the purchase or taken possession of it. Although Leveque claimed his social media activity was protected by free speech rights, law enforcement explained that his actions constituted criminal threats.
“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.”
Ron Emmot of the United States Secret Service stated: “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.”
Justin A. Garris of the FBI added: “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,” he said. “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 pleaded guilty to making threats against both the President-elect and successors to the Presidency. After serving his prison sentence, he will be under supervised release for three years.
This case was investigated by both the U.S. Secret Service—with assistance from its Albuquerque Resident Office—and by agents from the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office along with support from local police authorities in Albuquerque. The prosecution was handled by attorneys from New Mexico’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.