Nick Guadalupe Cruz-Lopez, Threatening to Kill President, Florida 2026

TAMPA – Nick Guadalupe Cruz-Lopez, 20, of Plant City, Florida, is facing federal charges after allegedly posting a direct threat against the President of the United States. The Secret Service moved quickly, arresting Cruz-Lopez on April 2, 2026, after the disturbing image surfaced online.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cruz-Lopez posted a photo to his Instagram account bearing the message “MAGA Otw to kill trump.” The image showed Cruz-Lopez inside a vehicle, clearly displaying an AR-15 style rifle. The post immediately triggered a Secret Service investigation.

Federal agents reportedly located and apprehended Cruz-Lopez the same day the post appeared. The speed of the arrest underscores the seriousness with which the Secret Service treats any potential threat to the President. Details regarding the specifics of the investigation – how the post came to the attention of the Secret Service, and any further evidence discovered – have not been released.

U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the charges, stating that if convicted, Cruz-Lopez faces a maximum penalty of five years in Federal prison. The charge is making a threat to kill the President of the United States, a federal offense taken extremely seriously in the current climate.

The filing of a criminal complaint is not a declaration of guilt. As the U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized, Cruz-Lopez is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.

The investigation was handled entirely by the United States Secret Service. While the agency has not released a statement beyond the basic facts of the arrest, sources within the agency suggest this case highlights the challenges of monitoring online threats in the age of social media. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.

Source: https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2026/04/plant-city-man-arrested-threatening-kill-president-united-states