A federal grand jury in Toledo, Ohio, has indicted 33-year-old Shannon Mathre for allegedly threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States during a January visit to Northwest Ohio. According to the indictment, Mathre stated, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” He was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents on February 6.
In addition to the threat charge, Mathre is also accused of receiving and distributing images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct between December 31, 2025, and January 21, 2026. The digital files were discovered while agents investigated the alleged threats against the vice president.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said: “Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance. You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented: “While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials. Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”
David M. Toepfer, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio added: “Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District. Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”
Mathre appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for his initial hearing on February 6 and remains detained pending a scheduled detention hearing on February 11.
If convicted on all charges, Mathre could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for making threats against the vice president. For possessing child sexual abuse material, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment and another $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer announced the charges along with officials from U.S. Secret Service’s Toledo and Cleveland Field Offices.
Authorities emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
Sentencing upon conviction would be determined by a judge considering factors such as criminal history and details specific to each violation.
The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service with support from Toledo Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak are prosecuting.
