Defendant with severe mental illness threatened media
figures, the Jewish community and members of the Trump family
Seattle – A 27-year-old Kent, Washington, man was sentenced
today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison and three years
of supervised release for two counts of making interstate threats. CHASE BLISS COLASURDO made multiple online
posts threatening members of President Trump’s family and media figures in
Southern California and made threats to bomb synagogues. COLASURDO, was arrested May 1, 2019 after he
attempted to purchase a firearm. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District
Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “Mental illness may explain the intensity, but
it does not excuse the actions that he took or the threats that he made
instilling fear in his victims.”
“This case shines a spotlight on the frightening
intersection of mental illness and weapons,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “I commend law enforcement who closely
monitored this defendant so that he was arrested before he could commit any
violent acts. Supervision following
prison is designed to stop him from such frightening threats and behavior in
the future.”
According to records in the case, in March 2019, a member of
the public reported to the FBI concerns about Instagram and other social media
posts where COLASURDO threatened to execute members of President Donald Trump’s
family. Additionally, COLASURDO sent
messages to five different media organizations that he was going to execute the
family member. COLASURDO posted a photo
on Instagram showing a hand with a firearm pointed at the photo of a Trump
family member. When initially contacted
by law enforcement in March, COLASURDO claimed his social media accounts had
been hacked.
Despite his statements that he was not responsible for the
posts, COLASURDO continued to make threatening comments, specifically threats
to members of the Jewish community. In
one post, he wrote it was time to start “bombing synagogues.” Throughout April 2019, COLASURDO sent
threatening email messages and online posts to media figures in Southern
California using anti-Semitic slurs and threats to kill. As law enforcement continued to track his
activity, it became clear he was purchasing various items related to firearms,
such as a holster, bulletproof vest, and ammunition. COLASURDO attempted to purchase a firearm but
was denied.
When law enforcement served search warrants at COLASURDO’s
apartment, they recovered Nazi and Adolph Hitler related items, as well as
ammunition, night vision goggles, and a gas mask.
“People need to understand that such threats will be taken
seriously,” Chief Judge Martinez said.
“It makes no difference to the victims that the person was mentally
ill.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Secret
Service, in conjunction with an investigation by the Los Angeles Police
Department. Significant assistance was provided by the Sound Regional Violent
Crimes Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Todd Greenberg
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