A former Marine and one-time state prosecutor from Jacksonville is now behind bars after federal agents say he posted combat-style videos calling for a violent uprising and explicitly targeting President Donald J. Trump.
Prosecutors allege 35-year-old William Lintag Upham recorded himself in military fatigues, urging viewers to overthrow the Trump administration and providing tactical advice on how to carry it out. The clips, authorities say, did not leave much to the imagination, and a federal magistrate judge ordered Upham detained after his initial appearance in court.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the charge on July 16, saying agents from the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation and that Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelli Swaney will prosecute the case, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. The office said the criminal complaint accuses Upham of transmitting a threat to the president under federal law.
What investigators say
According to the affidavit, two videos posted on July 13 show Upham in his Marine uniform, calling the moment “a call to arms” and laying out step-by-step guidance for a violent attack. Investigators say he recommended using a semi-automatic rifle such as an AR-15 and suggested “two shots to the chest” and “one shot to the head.” In the same videos, he allegedly denounced the president as the Antichrist and urged followers to “overthrow the Trump Administration.”
Agents also cited an email they say Upham wrote that stated, “I will kill President Trump at the time that God chooses,” according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Federal records and local reporting indicate Upham bought two firearms from a Virginia pawn shop in June 2024, and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies performed a welfare check at his home on July 5. During that encounter, he reportedly told officers he was the Messiah and that God had ordered him to die, according to Tampa Free Press. The Secret Service opened an inquiry after receiving tips from an anonymous caller and a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Service leaders condemn the posts
Military leaders were quick to put daylight between Upham and the armed services. The Marine Corps said it was aware of his “disturbing statements,” and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao publicly branded the remarks “unacceptable,” according to The Guardian. In other words, no one in uniform is rushing to claim him.
Legal process and penalties
Upham is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 871, the federal statute that makes it a crime to threaten the president. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A magistrate judge ordered him detained after his initial appearance, and the case will proceed in federal court in the Middle District of Florida. As WFTV notes, a criminal complaint is only an allegation, and Upham is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Investigators say the Secret Service and the FBI ran the joint probe, and prosecutors have signaled that more filings are likely as the investigation continues. Local coverage reports that Upham will stay in custody while he awaits a hearing set for later this month, according to Action News Jax.
