Virginia man faces federal charges for threatening Vice President Harris and other high-ranking officials online
Charlottesville, Virginia – A 66-year-old man from Winchester, Virginia, has been arrested on federal charges after allegedly making online threats against the Vice President of the United States and other high-ranking officials. Frank Lucio Carillo was apprehended last week at his home and made his initial court appearance this morning in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, Virginia. Carillo faces a federal criminal complaint that charges him with one count of making threats against the Vice President.
Threats Cross the Line
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia emphasized the importance of maintaining civil discourse while underscoring that threats of violence will not be tolerated. “Open political discourse is a cornerstone of our American experience. We can disagree. We can argue, and we can debate. However, when those disagreements cross the line to threats of violence, law enforcement must step in,” Kavanaugh said.
Echoing this sentiment, Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division affirmed the FBI’s commitment to protecting the American people from threats of violence. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people. We take all threats of violence seriously, and we will investigate them to the fullest and hold those responsible accountable,” Meador stated.
Investigation Uncovers Thousands of Threatening Posts
According to court documents, the investigation began on July 27, 2024, when the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office in Arizona alerted the FBI’s Phoenix Office about potential threats being made on the social media platform GETTR. These threats were posted by a user named “joemadarats1,” who had been active in making violent statements targeting various public officials, including President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
A deeper investigation into the “joemadarats1” account revealed approximately 4,359 posts and replies, with Vice President Harris being mentioned 19 times. These posts included numerous threats of violence, and in one particularly alarming post from February 2024, “joemadarats1” declared that he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”
Authorities Take Action
Authorities were able to trace the “joemadarats1” username back to Carillo using GETTR subscriber information and other investigative techniques. On August 2, 2024, the FBI’s Richmond division executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home in Winchester, Virginia. During the search, law enforcement officers seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The FBI’s offices in Richmond, Virginia, and Phoenix, Arizona, along with the United States Secret Service, are leading the investigation into the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.
Carillo now faces serious legal consequences for his online actions, as authorities continue to emphasize the importance of holding individuals accountable for making violent threats against public officials.
