An El Paso, Illinois resident, Derek Lopez, 27, has been charged in federal court for allegedly making threats against former President Donald J. Trump. According to authorities, Lopez was arrested on October 28, 2025. Preliminary and detention hearings are scheduled for November 3, 2025, at the federal courthouse in Peoria.
If found guilty, Lopez could face up to five years in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Field Office led the investigation into the case. They received assistance from the United States Secret Service, the El Paso Police Department, the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State University Police Department.
Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss is prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasized that “the charges in a complaint are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.”
