Hayden O’Byrne United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida | The Florida Bar
A Miami resident has pleaded guilty to making threats directed at a high school junior prom in New Jersey. The defendant, Onil Compres Rodriguez, aged 21, appeared in federal court, admitting to using social media to issue menacing messages about an upcoming prom event. These threats were sent as direct messages to several social media accounts, including those affiliated with New Jersey schools, on April 30, 2024.
In the messages, Compres Rodriguez stated ominously, “I will kill everyone,” “they should never have hurt me,” and “Wear your bulletproof vests there will be a lot of blood hahaha.” He also indicated his intention to seek retribution for unspecified grievances.
Compres Rodriguez included two images with his threats: one showing an invitation to the New Jersey high school prom scheduled for May 2, 2024, and another depicting firearms and ammunition. Authorities took the threats seriously and conducted an investigation that led to Miami, where Compres Rodriguez was located. On the day of the New Jersey prom, authorities discovered that he had booked a flight from Miami to Newark, New Jersey. Law enforcement apprehended him upon his arrival in Newark, preventing any potential escalation of events.
Senior U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno is set to sentence Rodriguez in Miami on June 25. Rodriguez could face up to five years in federal prison for the charge of transmitting threats through interstate communications.
The case was publicly announced by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami. The investigation involved cooperation between FBI Miami, FBI Newark, the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, and the Clifton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah is leading the prosecution.
For additional details, court documents and related information are accessible via the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or through PACER, under case number 24-cr-20490.
