TULSA, OK – John Jacobs Ahrens, 58, of Tulsa, has pleaded guilty to a trio of federal charges stemming from a bizarre and chilling series of threats directed at President Joseph Biden, members of Congress, and their families. The threats, delivered via email to local news station Newson6, revolved around a demand for money and escalated into promises of violence if his demands weren’t met. Ahrens will face sentencing on December 22, 2021.
According to court documents, Ahrens’ reign of terror began in May 2021, when he began emailing KOTV Channel 6 with increasingly unhinged demands. He explicitly threatened to kill the President and the children of members of Congress if a financial payment wasn’t made. The station’s executive producer did the right thing, contacting the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, triggering a swift investigation.
The emails detailed a warped sense of entitlement and historical grievance. In one particularly disturbing message sent on May 10, 2021, Ahrens wrote, “They have less than 48 hours to hand over my money or their children will start dying all over the country. I’m going to kill their children using the same law as the Government used to force our families on to the Trail of Tears.” He later demanded a check be delivered to the State of Oklahoma, the Muscogee Nation, and his family, referencing a treaty from 1866.
The threats didn’t stop there. Ahrens also wrote, “America is going to get to see a sitting President get his head blown off right in front of them” and ominously warned, “…your families will start dying. After that is over, I’m going to come back here one more time and tell you to hand over my money.” These weren’t idle ramblings; investigators took them seriously, recognizing the potential for real-world harm. Ahrens faces penalties for one count of threat against the President of the United States and two counts of interstate communication with a threat to injure.
On June 18, 2021, agents from the FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force descended on Ahrens’ Tulsa residence and took him into custody. Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson praised the swift response, stating, “This office and our federal law enforcement partners take seriously any online threats made against the President and members of Congress.” He also commended Newson6 for reporting the threats, highlighting the importance of public vigilance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is leading the prosecution. The case serves as a stark reminder that even in the digital age, threats of violence are not taken lightly. While Ahrens awaits sentencing, the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and OSBI will continue to monitor potential threats and protect those in positions of power. The question remains: what drove this Tulsa man to such desperate and violent threats? That’s a story for another day.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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