A former Marine and state prosecutor has been arrested and charged in federal court after allegedly posting social media videos and sending an email detailing plans to overthrow the administration and assassinate President Donald J. Trump.
William Lintag Upham, 35, of Jacksonville, made his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday, July 16, 2026, where a magistrate judge ordered him detained. If convicted of making threats against the president, Upham faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
The U.S. Secret Service launched an investigation on July 14 after receiving tips from an anonymous caller and a representative from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
According to court records, Upham had been medically retired from the Marine Corps due to mental health concerns, recently underwent a psychiatric hold, and abruptly resigned from his position as a state prosecutor before launching a congressional campaign.
Investigators reviewed two videos posted to Upham’s Instagram and Facebook accounts on July 13. In both videos, Upham wore his military uniform while addressing his followers.
In the first recording, Upham cited biblical prophecy and called on viewers to overthrow the current administration.
“This is a call to arms,” Upham said in the video. “To all of God’s children, you must overthrow the Trump Administration on behalf of God.”
The complaint notes that Upham then provided detailed military instructions, recommending the use of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and armor-piercing ammunition. He described specific combat tactics, including “buddy rushing” and the “slice the pie” technique to clear corners.
“In the United States Marine Corps, we kill the enemy using box drills,” Upham said. “What does that look like? Two shots to the chest. One to the head… This is the fastest and most efficient way to kill the enemy, and it will conserve your ammo.”
In the second video, Upham repeated his allegations, explicitly identifying the president as a target.
“We are led by a President who’s the enemy of God and President Trump will never bring us together like God intended,” Upham said. He later added, “There is no doubt in my mind that the President of the United States Donald J. Trump is the Antichrist. He is a false Messiah, and he is your enemy and he must be killed.”
The investigation escalated on July 15 when a newspaper reporter contacted the Secret Service. The reporter had emailed Upham regarding his online posts and received a response from the email address listed on Upham’s Florida Bar profile.
According to the affidavit, Upham’s email response stated: “I made this video in uniform to declare war against President Trump on behalf of God. The uniform represents the Holy War between God and the Anti-Christ.” Upham further wrote, “I will kill President Trump at the time that God chooses, not when I choose. Our county must overthrow President Trump by the violent use of force and kill him.”
Federal records show Upham purchased two firearms from a Virginia pawn shop in June 2024. Local law enforcement records also revealed that Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a welfare check at Upham’s home on July 5, 2026. During that encounter, Upham told officers that he was the Messiah and that God had ordered him to die.
The case was jointly investigated by the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney is leading the prosecution.
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