CLARKSBURG, W.Va. –A Clarksburg man is now facing federal charges after he allegedly made threats against President Donald Trump and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
A news release from U.S. Attorney Matt Harvey said Cody Lee Smith, 20, was indicted Wednesday on two counts of threats to murder the President, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder, and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder.
Smith was arrested on January 22.
The indictment stated that Smith had made a series of public posts on Instagram that encouraged and threatened the murder of President Trump, any citizen who supported Trump, Israelis, and “all government officials.”
It also alleges that Smith contacted Donald Trump, Jr., via Instagram and told him he would kill his father, President Trump, by cutting his jugular.
He also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg.
“Threats of violence and death against President Trump and our brave law enforcement partners will not be tolerated in the Northern District of West Virginia,” U.S. Attorney Harvey said. “We take threats seriously, regardless of how they are made, and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Smith faces up to five years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.