Welcome to Arrest Stories. A forty-four-year-old Knoxville man was arrested by FBI agents after allegedly posting dozens of threatening messages targeting some of the highest-ranking officials in the country. Heres what may have happened.
On July sixteenth, twenty twenty-six, federal agents arrested Garry Lee Williams of Knoxville, Tennessee, on a complaint involving the interstate transmission of threats to kill public officials. The arrest was made by the FBI, and the case is being prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice.
According to an FBI affidavit supporting the complaint, agents first received a tip in May about a TikTok account that was posting threats against government officials and their children. Investigators determined that Williams was the owner of that account. Authorities said the account contained dozens of threatening posts, images, and videos.
The alleged targets included President Donald Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel. Williams allegedly warned President Trump to step down or, in his words, get layed down. One alleged post read, President Trump I'm gonna get you and all your buddies, I want your heads off your shoulders, send all law enforcement you want to they can go too.
In an alleged video, Williams reportedly said, Have fun in the grave, and, I'll have my machete. In another post, he allegedly told officials to look over ur shoulders day and night, worry bout ur kids or grandkids at school not knowing if I'm around.
The threats were not limited to the officials themselves. They allegedly extended to family members, including President Trumps youngest son, Barron Trump. One post allegedly read, Y'all didn't care bout me or my kids so it's f**k u and your kids. Williams also allegedly warned all you corrupt politicians on this list to kiss your family goodbye.
Williams allegedly stated that Trump and Patel should be hung or firing squad, adding, Kill them all. A post from March allegedly read, Kill President Trump, CIA, FBI Kash Patel, and Death to all you cowards.
Williams made his initial court appearance on July seventeenth, twenty twenty-six, in United States District Court in Knoxville. He has been charged with one count of transmitting interstate threats to kill public officials. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August twenty-fifth, with a trial date to be set at a later time.
The United States Attorneys Office stated, Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.