Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A federal grand jury has indicted Shannon Mathre, a 33-year-old resident of Toledo, Ohio, on charges related to threatening the life of the Vice President of the United States during a visit to Northwest Ohio in January. According to the indictment, Mathre allegedly stated, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” He was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents on February 6.
In addition to the threat against the vice president, identified as Vice President Vance in official statements, Mathre faces charges for receiving and distributing images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment states that these offenses occurred between December 31, 2025, and January 21, 2026. Federal agents reportedly discovered multiple digital files containing child sexual abuse materials while investigating the threats made against the vice president.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented on the case: “Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance. You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche added: “While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials. Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”
David M. Toepfer, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio said: “Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District. Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”
Mathre appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for his initial hearing on February 6 and remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 11.
If convicted on all counts as charged, Mathre could face up to five years in prison with a maximum fine of $250,000 for threatening a successor to the presidency under Title 18 U.S.C Section 871(a). For charges related to child sexual abuse material under Title 18 U.S.C Section 2252(a)(2), he could receive up to twenty years imprisonment with an additional $250,000 maximum fine.
The investigation is being led by the United States Secret Service with assistance from both local police departments and state authorities including Toledo Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer announced these developments alongside representatives from both Toledo and Cleveland field offices of the U.S. Secret Service.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial. If convicted, sentencing will be determined by factors unique to each case such as prior criminal record or role in offense.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak are prosecuting this case for the Northern District of Ohio.
