A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty on Dec. 3 to a nine-count superseding indictment charging him with cyberstalking and making threats in interstate commerce, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
John Thornton, 40, had been the subject of complaints since November 2020 by several people who had received disturbing or threatening messages from him.
On May 18, the FBI received information about threats Thornton sent to four people.
Thornton told the four individuals, who lived in Texas and Florida, that he was going to execute them.
Thornton also sent messages to his ex-wife threatening to kill President Biden and employees at a Canadian computer company.
“In the criminal complaint there is reference to President Joe Biden, just to be clear, the government has not charged Mr. Thornton to making threats to the president, there are four victims listed in the criminal complaint, at this time the United States is only proceeding on the text messages that were sent to victims two and three,” U.S. Attorney Marisa Ong who is prosecuting the case said.
Victim two is Thornton's former wife, with whom he has kids with. Victim three is one of his family members.
Thornton faces up to five years in prison for each count.
He will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
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