BOSTON – A Mansfield man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with posting online threats to the President of the United States.
Andrew J. O’Keefe, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr., who scheduled sentencing for March 16, 2017.
On May 13, 2015, an individual, later determined to be O’Keefe, posted a threat on an FBI website stating that he planned to kill President Barack Obama. On May 15, 2015, officers attempted to interview O’Keefe regarding the posting; however, O’Keefe refused to speak with them outside of his residence. A search warrant executed at O’Keefe’s home and vehicle resulted in the recovery of over 100 weapons including swords, double-edged knives, hatchets, spears, an air gun, and two laptop computers. O’Keefe was arrested on state charges and later charged federally.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service; and Mansfield Police Chief Ronald A. Sellon, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.