A West Virginia man has been indicted on federal charges after prosecutors say online posts and direct threats targeted President Trump and federal immigration officers, prompting a multiagency criminal probe and possible federal prison time.
A Clarksburg, West Virginia man, identified as Cody Lee Smith, 20, now faces a federal indictment that lays out multiple counts tied to threats against the President and federal officers. The formal paperwork charges him with two counts of threats to murder the President and additional counts for threatening and attempting to influence federal officials by threat. The filings allege a pattern of violent rhetoric and specific threats that moved investigators to act quickly.
Prosecutors contend Smith used public social media posts to encourage and threaten the murder of President Trump and others who support him, including members of the military, as well as Israelis and “all government officials.” Those posts, according to the indictment, were not casual rhetoric but explicit calls for lethal violence that drew the attention of federal agencies.
The indictment also alleges Smith sent a direct message to Donald J. Trump, Jr. in which he threatened to kill the President by cutting his “jugular.” Investigators say he then followed up with a phone call to an ICE tip line where he threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and staff handling tips. Those steps pushed the case beyond social media into actionable criminal threats that federal law prohibits.
“Threats of violence and death against President Trump and our brave law enforcement partners will not be tolerated in the Northern District of West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Harvey. “We take threats seriously, regardless of how they are made, and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.” The statement underlines that prosecutors view online threats as real dangers, not protected abstraction.
“The safety and security of law enforcement personnel is our highest priority at Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf. “HSI is committed to actively pursuing anyone who threatens the brave agents and officers who protect our communities. We will work tirelessly to investigate these threats and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.” That pledge reflects how HSI treats threats to officers and the public as matters for full investigative resources.
Smith faces serious federal penalties if convicted: up to five years for each count alleging threats against the President, and up to ten years for each of the other counts tied to influencing or retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder. Sentencing will be set by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors. The potential exposure underscores how federal law stacks penalties for threats aimed at public officials and enforcement personnel.
“The safety and security of those we protect is our highest priority and all threats against the President of the United States will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Tad Lipscomb, the Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Charleston, West Virginia Resident Office. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners at HSI, the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, for their assistance during this case.” That multiagency cooperation highlights how local and federal teams coordinate on threats that cross jurisdictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is handling prosecution for the government, and investigative work was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Those agencies pooled resources to trace the online activity, analyze the communications, and determine whether the threats met the criminal threshold. The approach reflects how digital threats now trigger broad law enforcement responses.
This case is listed as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources to counter illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. That program places this prosecution within a larger focus on law and order and public safety priorities. Editor’s Note: ICE and CBP continue to put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect America’s sovereignty and to keep our streets safe.
