Federal agents arrested 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 taken into custody on July 16 by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. He is charged with the interstate transmission of threats to kill public officials, a violation of federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c).
Williams made his initial appearance on July 17 in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.
According to an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Williams made repeated posts and videos on social media platforms, including TikTok, where he threatened to kill President Donald J. Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel.
U.S. 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 announced the arrest following the court appearance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 25 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Poplin. A trial date has not yet been set.
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