SHREVEPORT, La. — A Shreveport man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of cyberstalking and making threats against the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the President of the United States, federal prosecutors announced.
Justin Chadwick Butler, 31, was indicted March 3 on three counts related to online threats directed at the two national leaders, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and up to three years of supervised release.
“Threats against public officials and our Nation’s leaders are threats to our democracy and our American way of life, and we will not tolerate them,” U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said in a statement. “For those who would use the mask of internet anonymity to threaten others, the message here is clear: our many state and federal law enforcement partners will track you down, and you will face justice.”
According to court documents, Butler allegedly used social media accounts to post threatening messages directed at the House Speaker, often tagging the Speaker’s account. Prosecutors said the posts included statements suggesting violence against the Speaker and comments referencing both the Speaker and the President.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins is prosecuting the case with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.
Federal officials emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation, and Butler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.