A Michigan man named James Donald Vance, Jr., was sentenced to two years in federal prison for posting threatening communications online, including threats to kill the President and vice president of the United States, and one of the President’s children, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Michigan. The defendant pleaded guilty to two felony offenses: threatening to kill or injure the President and vice president, and interstate threatening communications. Each violation carries a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced him, stating that the crime was “grievous conduct” requiring a prison sentence to deter others from making similar threats. The U.S. Attorney Timothy Ver Hey emphasized that threats against our nation’s leaders and their families will not be tolerated. The defendant made specific threats to kill four people, including President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance, in March and April 2025 using the alias “Diaperjdv” on social media platforms. He stated he did not care whether he was shot by Secret Service or would spend the rest of his life in prison for his actions.
