A North Texas man is facing a federal courtroom after prosecutors say his social media posts went from angry rant to alleged criminal threat against President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Francisco Jesus Mena, 36, of North Richland Hills, was indicted this week on multiple counts accusing him of transmitting threats against federal officials. Prosecutors say they are treating violent online threats as potential crimes, not just heated rhetoric.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment on Tuesday, each count alleging a threat against a federal official. Mena had already been arrested on a federal complaint and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Harold R. Ray Jr. He is scheduled for arraignment on Feb. 11 and, if convicted on all counts, could face as much as 96 years in federal prison.
What the indictment alleges
Prosecutors say the indictment centers on a series of social media posts from May 2025 that allegedly included language such as “kill Trump” and “ice comes to my house, i will respond with a gunfight.” In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould warned that “Any threat against the President, federal officials, and agents will be thoroughly investigated and swiftly prosecuted,” and the FBI’s Dallas office urged the public to report suspicious online activity, per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Federal filings emphasize that an indictment is only a formal accusation. Mena is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove their case in court.
Investigation and local details
Federal officials say the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, Fort Worth resident agency, led the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht.
The Fort Worth Star‑Telegram reported additional details about the online posts and noted Mena’s North Richland Hills address after court records were unsealed. Local law-enforcement agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the federal charges.
Legal context
Threats directed at the president or federal officers can be charged under federal statutes that criminalize “true threats” and threatening communications sent across state lines. Relevant statutes include the Legal Information Institute (18 U.S.C. § 871, threats against the President) and the Legal Information Institute (18 U.S.C. § 875, interstate threatening communications). Which penalties apply depends on how prosecutors charge the case and what a jury ultimately finds.
Court decisions and legal scholars alike point out that offensive, extreme, or even violent political speech does not automatically qualify as a criminal threat; the law requires proof that the communication crosses a specific legal line.
Court records show Mena remains in custody ahead of his Feb. 11 arraignment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht continues to handle the prosecution, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has listed media contacts in its public release for questions about the case.
