A Lubbock man has been convicted by a federal jury for making online threats to kill United States Secret Service agents and their families. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy E. Larson.
Tristan Rene Langston, 37, was charged in March 2025 with transmitting threats in interstate commerce and threatening a federal law enforcement officer. These charges stemmed from online threats he made in February 2025. After a four-day trial, the jury found Langston guilty on both counts on August 7, 2025.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that on February 21, 2025, Langston posted a message to X.com (formerly Twitter) criticizing two Secret Service agents and stating: “2nd Amendment in full effect. Gonna slit the throats of agents and their families.”
The prosecution argued that Langston’s statements were not just political rhetoric but were true threats directed at specific federal agents. Testimony indicated that Langston became angry with the two agents after they investigated an earlier threat he made online in 2023. Over several months, he targeted one agent and his family through online posts and kept videos and notes expressing his anger on his cellphone.
Testimony also established that Langston knew his graphic threat would be seen as retaliation for the investigation conducted by the agents.
“Targeting federal agents and their families with threats of violence is not protected speech—it is a federal crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “This verdict reaffirms our office’s commitment to take all threats seriously and to hold accountable those who try to intimidate and terrorize our law enforcement partners.”
“We commend the jury’s decision in finding Tristan Langston guilty of threatening to kill United States Secret Service agents and their families,” said Christina Foley, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Dallas Field Office. “Threats against federal law enforcement officers and their loved ones are taken with the utmost seriousness, and this verdict reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting those who serve.”
Langston could face up to 15 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on November 6, 2025.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann Howey and Sean Long from the Lubbock Division.
