A 27-year-old Kent, Washington man is behind bars after federal authorities arrested him on two counts of making interstate threats, stemming from a string of violent online rants targeting President Donald Trump’s family, multiple media figures, and the Jewish community. Chase Bliss Colasurdo was taken into custody without incident by FBI agents around 11:30 AM on May 1, 2019, following a months-long digital trail of escalating threats.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday, Colasurdo posted a photo on Instagram in March 2019 showing a hand gripping a firearm pointed directly at an image of a Trump family member. He also sent direct messages to five separate media organizations vowing to execute the same individual. When confronted by law enforcement, Colasurdo claimed his accounts had been hacked — a defense quickly undermined by his continued activity.
Despite his initial denial, Colasurdo kept posting. In one chilling message, he declared it was time to start “bombing synagogues,” directing threats at the Jewish community in Southern California. Law enforcement monitoring his accounts observed not just rhetoric, but preparation: Colasurdo purchased a bulletproof vest, holsters, and ammunition. He attempted to buy a firearm but was denied, federal records confirm.
The FBI moved in after determining the threats were credible and self-authored. His arrest on May 1 triggered a swift federal response. Colasurdo made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 PM on May 2, 2019, facing the full weight of federal prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg is handling the case for the Western District of Washington.
Interstate threats are no joke under federal law. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. Though the charges are allegations and Colasurdo is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the pattern of behavior laid out in court documents paints a disturbing picture of a man radicalized online and moving toward action.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department. As digital threats increasingly cross state lines, federal prosecutors like U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran are stepping up efforts to stop violent extremism before it turns into bloodshed. For now, Chase Bliss Colasurdo remains in custody, awaiting the next phase of a case that blurs the line between free speech and domestic terror.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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