North Texas resident Robert Wilson King was sentenced to 17 months in federal prison for issuing threats to kill ICE agents via social media.
According to court documents, King was found guilty of Interstate Communication with Threats. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas revealed several images of King’s threatening posts.
“If I see ICE agents in my neighborhood I’m opening fire. It’s time to stop being p****** and put the second amendment to work. ICE are not real cops, they are a secret police force with no real legal authority. Kill them,” reads one of King’s posts.
Notably, while the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, murder is prohibited, and federal law specifically prohibits interstate threats of violence.
According to the arrest warrant, the FBI received a tip from an unnamed individual about King’s threatening posts. The individual reported that King confirmed he had made the post, was serious about his willingness to kill ICE agents, and had no remorse.
The whistleblower said that King had posted online threats toward Gov. Greg Abbott and then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
The warrant included several images of social media posts in which King allegedly threatened violence against Abbott and Noem.
On Facebook, King “acknowledged that his ‘rhetoric is growing increasingly more violent,’” according to the warrant.
Other posts allegedly by King included: “Current Director of the FBI needs to be shot and killed,” “try to enforce your religion on me and I will SHOOT AND KILL you,” and “I truly hope . . . that Kristi Noem meets a horrible and agonizing demise.”
King pleaded guilty to the charge of interstate communication with threats and was sentenced to 17 months in federal prison.
“There is no place for political violence in this country, and that includes hiding behind a keyboard to threaten the lives of the men and women who serve in federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.
“Threats of violence against federal law enforcement officers are not protected speech; it is a criminal act that will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly,” said Antwoine Jones, deputy special agent in charge for HSI Dallas. “This sentence sends a clear message that those who threaten officers or attempt to intimidate them from performing their lawful responsibilities will be held accountable.”
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents perform critical duties for our nation, and they should never have to fear for their own lives or the safety of their families simply for doing their jobs. Those who attempt to intimidate, harass or threaten federal officials will be tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” added Raybould.
“This sentence sends a strong message that political violence will not be tolerated and those who threaten members of law enforcement will be held accountable,” said U.S. Secret Service Dallas Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christina Foley. “Through strong partnerships with our federal, state and local counterparts—and by leveraging our unique technical and investigative capabilities—we remain committed to bringing to justice those who threaten the safety and lives of others.”
Earlier this year, officials noted how years of anti-ICE rhetoric is incentivizing harm to federal agents.
ICE Director Todd Lyons said, “This rhetoric has fomented violence against dedicated American patriots defending our homeland, and this must stop.”
“I can’t imagine being a DHS officer, an ICE officer, and being threatened with violence, having death threats, being doxxed, having your family identified … and violently telling you that they are going to kill you because you are enforcing the laws … passed by both sides of the aisle in this body,” said U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R–San Angelo).
