Federal agents apprehended a Knoxville man Thursday in connection with online death threats directed at national and local leaders, according to federal court documents.
Garry Lee Williams, 44, was arrested on July 16 by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. He is charged with the interstate transmission of threats to assassinate public officials, a violation of federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c).
Williams made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on July 17.
According to an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Williams threatened to kill President Donald J. Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel in multiple social media posts and videos, including on TikTok.
Following the court appearance, the arrest was announced by United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI’s Nashville Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. for the government.
A preliminary hearing is set for August 25 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Poplin. The trial date has not yet been set.
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