Image Credit: FBI Knoxville & Canva
Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –
A Knoxville man who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last month for making death threats against several local and national public officials on social media is now being held in federal custody following an indictment by a grand jury on almost two dozen charges.
Gary Lee Williams, 44, was taken into FBI custody July 16 on a complaint involving threats to kill public officials including President Donald Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, and others in “repeated posts and videos” he shared on social media platform TikTok.
On July 28, a Chattanooga federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment against Williams, accusing him of posting public threats on TikTok to “murder and maim national public officials, Knox County public officials, and members of Williams’s own family”. These charges constitute violations of federal statutes regarding threats against the president, interstate threats, and threats to murder a federal law enforcement officer.
According to the indictment, from January through April 2026, Williams used TikTok to make the numerous public posts announcing his intent to harm the officials and urging others to do the same.
Prosecutors say Williams made 11 separate threats to murder President Trump, one murder threat against a member of the president’s immediate family, seven separate threats against FBI Director Patel, two threats of murder against the Knox County Sheriff and Knoxville Police Department, and another threat to murder numerous members of his own family.
Appearing on Aug. 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville, Williams pleaded not guilty and is being detained pending trial, which is scheduled to begin October 6, 2026.
If convicted, Williams faces up to a total of 145 years in prison, and each of the 22 violations also includes a maximum fine of $250,000.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
MAGA!! Restore asylums for Gary Lee Williams and his like.