Wednesday, June 17, 2020

El Paso Man Faces Federal Charge of Posting Threatening Communications over the Internet

Manuel Flores, age 42 of El Paso, faces a federal charge of posting a threatening communication over the Internet, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis M. Quesada, El Paso Division.

On Monday, FBI agents arrested Flores in Dallas based on a federal criminal complaint filed in El Paso.  According to the criminal complaint, Flores recorded and uploaded a video to YouTube entitled “[N*****] Lives Matter” in which he made threatening comments to Black Lives Matter protestors.  During the video, the defendant is seated visible only from the knees down with what appears to be an AR-15 style rifle resting on the defendant’s feet.  Flores stated that he would be travelling on I-20 Eastbound through Dallas on Monday while daring individuals representing Black Lives Matter to “stop him.”  Flores further stated that “my dream is at least take out at least 200 [N******].”

On Monday, FBI agents located and arrested Flores in the Dallas area without incident.  He had his initial appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate in Dallas.

Flores is charged with one count of transmitting threatening communications.  Upon conviction, he faces up to five years in federal prison.  He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at this time awaiting transfer to El Paso.  His preliminary hearing before a U.S. Magistrate in El Paso has yet to be scheduled. 

The FBI is investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Hanna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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