Man Charged in White Plains Federal Court With Threatening to Shoot Police Officers

January 7, 2015 Examiner Media

Jeremy Mott, 24, of Mount Vernon, was arrested Tuesday on charges of threatening to shoot members of the Mount Vernon Police Department.

The complaint issued by Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and George Venizelos, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alleges that Mott posted messages on Internet social media sites in which he threatened to shoot Mount Vernon police officers and included a digital image depicting the shooting of a police officer.

Mott was taken into federal custody Tuesday. He was presented in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith and was released on bond.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “We will not tolerate threats of violence against police officers. Period. Here, as alleged, social media were used for the threat. Law enforcement should not have to wait to see whether a threat will be acted on, so now the defendant will have to answer for his threatening intentions, as charged.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos stated: “As we see all too often, social media is used as a platform for posting threats against members of the law enforcement community. As alleged, Mott made significant online threats in which he threatened to shoot Mount Vernon police officers. Those who threaten the lives of law enforcement officers through interstate communications will be fully investigated by the FBI and our partners.”

According to allegations Mott posted messages on Facebook and Instagram, both of which included digital images of an individual discharging a firearm into a police vehicle through the driver’s side window. The Facebook message included the threat, “I swear if cops in Mount Vernon think they can follow the madness this is how they going to end up.” The Instagram message included the threat, “They better keep that crazy shyt away from Mount Vernon cause me & my [n****s] not playing no games with them ppl!!”

Mott is charged with one count of making interstate threats, which upon conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Bharara said the investigation is continuing.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Zolkind is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.