Jared Marc Brown, Threatening Federal Officials, New York 2024

Lockport man Jared Marc Brown, 23, is staring down a federal prison sentence after being indicted on five counts tied to a violent threat spree targeting some of the most powerful figures in the U.S. justice system. The indictment, handed up by a federal grand jury in Buffalo, charges Brown with threatening to kill the President of the United States, retaliating against a federal judge and a Secret Service agent, and mailing a threatening communication.

The charges stem from events on March 25, 2019, when Brown allegedly sent a letter to a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent declaring, “I’m [ ] gonna kill Donald Trump with Anthrax when I get out.” The message, written with chilling specificity, triggered an immediate investigation by federal authorities and marked the beginning of a broader probe into Brown’s intentions and state of mind.

On that same day, Brown is accused of threatening to assault and murder U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, Judge Vilardo’s spouse, and the same Secret Service agent. Prosecutors say the threats were explicitly retaliatory—meant to punish the judge and agent for carrying out their official duties, particularly those related to prior legal proceedings involving Brown.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, leading the prosecution, outlined the gravity of the charges, which include one count of making a threat against the president, two counts of retaliation against a federal judge, one count of retaliation against a federal law enforcement officer, and one count of mailing a threatening communication. Each count carries severe penalties, with a maximum of 10 years in prison per charge.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Lewis Robinson. Authorities moved swiftly to compile evidence, trace the letter’s origin, and build a case that now places Brown at the center of a high-profile federal prosecution. Documents reveal investigators treated the threats as credible and immediate, prompting protective measures for the targeted officials.

The indictment is not a conviction—Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the charges paint a disturbing picture of a man aiming to strike at the heart of federal authority. As the case moves forward, prosecutors will need to prove intent, credibility, and connection to the threats. For now, the message is clear: threatening federal officials comes with a steep price.

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