Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Peter Daniel Ring, a 31-year-old resident of Bell, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to sending multiple threats to kill or cause physical harm. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“My office takes seriously any threat of violence, and we have zero-tolerance for criminal threats directed toward others because of their religious or political affiliation,” said U.S. Attorney Heekin.
According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating after receiving a complaint from the Washington Post in June 2025 about a threat made against one of its reporters. The FBI identified Ring as the source. After being contacted by agents, Ring initially stated he would stop making threats. However, two months later, authorities received information that Ring continued posting threats motivated by religious and political reasons targeting Muslims, media members, and politicians. Between May and September 2025, at least fourteen individuals were threatened with death or injury.
Ring could face up to ten years in prison when sentenced on April 28, 2026. Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor will preside over the sentencing at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative involving Department of Justice resources aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues and combating violent crime as well as human and drug trafficking across the country.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of ninety-four such offices nationwide serving under direction from the Attorney General. More information about this office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
