SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 22-year-old Anaheim resident is cooling his heels in federal custody after allegedly unleashing a torrent of violent threats against Vice President J.D. Vance during the VP’s family trip to Disneyland last summer. Marco Antonio Aguayo, 22, was arrested and charged with threats against the President and successors to the Presidency, a serious federal offense.
The threats, posted on the Instagram account of The Walt Disney Company on July 12, 2025, were chilling in their specificity. According to court documents, Aguayo wrote, “Pipe bombs have been placed in preparation for J.D. Vance’s arrival.” He didn’t stop there, adding, “It’s time for us to rise up and you will be a witness to it,” and escalating the violence with, “Good luck finding all of them on time there will be bloodshed tonight and we will bathe in the blood of corrupt politicians.”
Law enforcement responded swiftly. Anaheim Police, working with the U.S. Secret Service and FBI, visited Aguayo at his home the same day. Aguayo surrendered his phone, which confirmed the existence of the threatening posts. While Vice President Vance and his family were thankfully unharmed, the incident highlights the ever-present danger faced by high-profile officials.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi minced no words, calling the case a “horrific reminder” of the threats faced by public officials. “I am grateful that my friend Vice President Vance and his family are safe,” Bondi stated. First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli echoed that sentiment, vowing, “We will not tolerate criminal threats against public officials.” He warned potential copycats, “We will find you and bring you to justice.”
Aguayo is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in Santa Ana on Tuesday. If convicted of threats against the President and successors to the Presidency, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert K. Quealy of the Major Frauds Section.
The Secret Service is leading the investigation, with crucial support from the FBI and Anaheim Police Department. While the details of the investigation remain sealed, sources within the agency confirm they are meticulously examining Aguayo’s online activity and potential connections to extremist groups. This incident serves as a stark warning: the internet is not a shield for criminal behavior, and threats against public officials will be met with the full force of the law.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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