George Joseph Wellinger II, a San Diego resident, has pleaded guilty in federal court to sending a threatening email targeting a member of the LGBTQ community. According to the plea agreement, Wellinger admitted that he chose his victim based on her sexual orientation and his hostility towards the LGBTQ community.
The victim became a target after participating in a KTLA news report concerning a hate crime murder in Lake Arrowhead in August 2023. The email sent by Wellinger referred to the victim as "another alphabet clown that wants to take a dirt nap, too," and included a link to the KTLA report. The message contained explicit threats such as, "We know what you look like and know where are you are....only a matter of time....Love it....get ur ghey on sister....scissor it up....we coming for ur rainbow azz. Click Click!!!"
The case relates back to an incident on August 18, 2023, when Laura Ann Carleton was murdered for displaying a Pride flag outside her store. Travis Ikeguchi shot Carleton and was subsequently killed by law enforcement. Following this event, KTLA published an article about Carleton's death on August 30, 2023.
Wellinger has been charged with Interstate Threatening Communication and acknowledged targeting his victim due to her sexual orientation. He will be sentenced on June 9, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline M. Jimenez and Alicia Williams are leading the prosecution of this case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.
For those who believe they have been victims of hate crimes, the FBI can be contacted at www.tips.fbi.gov.
