TAMPA, Fla. – A 34-year-old Tampa man is in federal custody this week after authorities say he posted videos online threatening two high-ranking government officials.
Alexander Justin McAfee made his first appearance in a Tampa federal courtroom on April 17, 2026, where a judge ordered him detained while he awaits trial on charges of making interstate threats.
The legal trouble for McAfee started with two separate videos uploaded earlier this month. According to court documents, McAfee published a video on April 8 directed at FBI Director Kash Patel.
Investigators say he followed that up the very next day, April 9, with a second video targeting Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Federal prosecutors have charged McAfee with two counts of interstate communication of a threat to injure.
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If a jury finds him guilty, he could spend a significant amount of time in prison. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years, meaning McAfee faces up to a decade behind bars if convicted on both charges.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the indictment following a massive joint investigation. The case pulled in resources from several agencies, including the FBI, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Because the threats involved high-level officials, the United States Secret Service and the Capitol Police also assisted in the probe.
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