The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, has announced that Manuel Tamayo-Torres from Tolleson has been charged with multiple offenses. These include making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, making threats against the President and successors to the presidency, interstate threatening communications, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
In July 2023, Tamayo-Torres received a two-year order of protection from an Arizona court. This order prohibited him from engaging in any form of harassment, stalking, or threats towards his ex-wife, as stated by the department.
He was prohibited from possessing firearms by both the conviction and the protective order, according to the office.
The U.S. attorney’s office has revealed that Tamayo-Torres made two attempts to purchase firearms in November 2023, despite being restricted from doing so. He is accused of falsely declaring on federal forms that he had no felony convictions and was not under any protection orders.
In November 2024, Tamayo-Torres is said to have posted threats on a social media platform against the President-elect of the United States, indicating his intention to harm the President-elect and their family, as per the department’s statement.
According to a post by the department, they confirmed that he allegedly brandished a firearm while making the threats. Law enforcement later recovered the firearm, along with other firearms, during a search of his residence.
If found guilty, Tamayo-Torres could potentially face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of false statements, threats against the president, or interstate threatening communications, according to the department.
If someone is found guilty of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, they can face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and be required to pay a fine of up to $250,000, as stated by the U.S. attorney’s office.