SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– on January 15th, 2019,federal authorities arrested Migdoel Cruz-Ruiz for threatening the life of the President of the United States.  The complaint charges Cruz-Ruiz with threatening to kill the President of the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 871, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.

The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint states that on January 12, 2019, Migdoel Cruz-Ruiz contacted the Federal Bureau of FBI National Threat Operations Center via telephone, and made threats to kill President Trump, destroy Newark, Boston, Colorado, and the White House “very soon.” Cruz-Ruiz claimed that this was being done in vengeance for things the United States did to the people of Pakistan, India and Iran.  On January 14, 2019, FBI agents arrested the defendant without incident.

“Federal authorities will continue to prosecute those who use means of communication to threaten, promote, or incite violent acts,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Alum is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, Cruz-Ruiz faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a term of supervised release of up to three years, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt.  Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.