A Round Rock resident has been detained by the FBI for allegedly issuing terroristic threats on the gaming platform Roblox, as detailed in court documents. The man under scrutiny, identified as James Wesley Burger, is accused of expressing a willingness to "kill Shia Muslims at their mosque" and conveying intentions of committing "martyrdom" at a Christian music event. According to a report by CBS Austin, these threats were initially made known to the FBI by another Roblox user.
Law enforcement took action following a tip-off from a Nevada Roblox user regarding 'Crazz3pain', Burger's alias on the platform. Upon tracing the billing information linked to the 'Crazz3pain' account, authorities were quickly able to trace it back to Burger. A search carried out at Burger's residence on February 28 revealed not only a keystroke logger program but also confirmed activity on Roblox on the day the threats were reported. "By my own definition, yes, I guess, you know, I would be a terrorist," Burger admitted in a statement obtained by CBS Austin.
The suspect also acknowledged owning the 'Crazz3pain' account and had, at one point, attempted to claim the use of the account in conjunction with another individual. However, he ultimately conceded ownership and the making of the statements to federal agents. Searches of his electronic devices showed incriminating searches, including phrases like "lone wolf terrorists ISIS" and "what is the most effective knife type," according to a detailed affidavit cited by KVUE.
The alleged acts of grooming terroristic plans included Burger admitting he would look to acquire a rifle to carry out an attack. "Yes. Pretty much," he responded when asked about this intention in an interview with federal agents. These communications influenced the FBI's conclusion to press charges against him for making a terroristic threat with the intent to disrupt public service, instigate public fear, or sway government actions. After being arrested by Cedar Park police on February 28, Burger was eventually released into federal custody on May 19, as reported by KVUE.
With a bond originally set at $200,000, Burger now faces a federal charge for the dire threats he is alleged to have made. The matter gained substantial gravity not merely due to the nature of the threats but in part to the platform on which they were discovered, pushing even virtual spaces into the realm of law enforcement's vigilance against potential acts of terror.
