A federal grand jury has indicted Shannon Mathre, 33, of Toledo, Ohio, on charges of threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States during a visit to Northwest Ohio in January. According to the indictment, Mathre allegedly said, “I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” He was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents on February 6.
The indictment also alleges that between December 31, 2025, and January 21, 2026, Mathre received and distributed images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Federal agents reportedly found multiple digital files containing child sexual abuse materials while investigating the threats against the vice president.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated: “Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance. You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented: “While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials. Thank you to federal, state and local partners in working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual.”
David M. Toepfer, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, added: “Hostile and violent threats made against the Vice President, or any other public official, will not be tolerated in our District. Anyone threatening this kind of action will face swift justice and prosecution. We commend the actions of our local and state law enforcement who collaborated with U.S. Secret Service to take this individual into custody.”
Mathre appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for his initial hearing on February 6 and remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 11.
If convicted on all charges, Mathre could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for threatening the vice president’s life; for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material he faces up to 20 years in prison and another $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service with assistance from local agencies including the Toledo Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Frank H. Spryszak are prosecuting.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is an allegation only; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. If convicted, sentencing will consider factors unique to Mathre’s case such as criminal history and details of the offense.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio announced these developments alongside representatives from U.S. Secret Service offices in Toledo and Cleveland.
