Joaquin Amador Serrapio, Miami Resident, Charged For Obama Facebook Threat

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A Miami man is charged with using Facebook postings to threaten to harm or assassinate President Barack Obama during his visit to South Florida last week, according to a federal criminal complaint.

A Secret Service affidavit filed in Miami federal court identified the man as 20-year-old Joaquin Amador Serrapio Jr. of Miami.

According to the affidavit, Serrapio posted the threatening comments under the Facebook name "Jay Valor" during Obama's visit to the University of Miami last Thursday. There's no indication that Serrapio took any steps to carry out the threat or that the president was ever in any danger. The Secret Service did not immediately respond Tuesday to a telephone call seeking additional comment.

In the first posting on Feb. 21, Serrapio as "Jay Valor" allegedly said this: "Who wants to help me assassinate Obummer while hes at UM this week?"

Then on Thursday, the day of Obama's visit, the Secret Service affidavit said Serrapio made another posting.

"If anyones going to UM to see obama today, get ur phones out and record. Cause at any moment im gonna put a bullet through his head and u don't wanna miss that! Youtube!"

Later that day, Secret Service agents went to Serrapio's home, where he and his mother agreed to allow a search. The agents found an iPad showing the initial Facebook post about assassinating Obama. They also found a sniper-style pellet rifle and a pellet handgun in Serrapio's bedroom.

After his arrest, Serrapio admitted posting the threats, according to the affidavit. Serrapio's court-apppointed attorney declined comment Tuesday.

The agents also searched Serrapio's cell phone, which included a text message from someone pointing out that Serrapio could get into trouble for the Facebook postings.

"I know I can b killed by this communist administration and im challenging them," he texted back, according to the affidavit. "Let's see what those (expletives) got."

Serrapio was arrested the same day as Obama's visit and is now free on $70,000 bail, according to court records. He is scheduled to enter a plea at an arraignment set for March 9 and has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment.

The charge of threatening to assassinate or inflict bodily harm on the president carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

According to his Facebook page, Serrapio fronts the "J. Valor Band" rock group that specializes in classic rock covers.

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Comments

[yomero]

08:26 PM on 03/02/2012

Then..... all tea party followers need health mental assessment..?

[Marvell Martin]

09:36 PM on 03/01/2012

another punk hidin behind gun .. Man really America Enough !! .. Man I have never seen the threats. the comments. man just a down right disrespect for the President of the United States of America . This just further shows screwed up this great nation is ... Get it together people !!

[American In Chicago]

04:46 PM on 03/01/2012

"Jay Valor" laying down some good ole timey racism in the new fangled world of social media:

http://lockerz.com/s/172141436

[argved]

03:49 PM on 03/01/2012

The power of the Tpub misinformation establishment claims yet another willingly weak minded victim, may there be many more.

[LovethemSkins]

12:02 PM on 03/01/2012

Is wondering if any conservatives will call for his legal status to be investigated?

[AaronLDeWolf]

08:54 AM on 03/01/2012

He's lucky he didn't own a real gun. He might get less than the maximum sentence for his crime since he didn't have real intent. Maybe a year or two of federal prison may teach him some tact. By the way, your prison buddy who makes threats about catching you alone in the shower is probably more serious than you were.

[RickO]

10:52 PM on 02/29/2012

It doesn't matter who the president is. You don't get to do that in this country. You don't have to agree with president, you don't have to like him, but we elected him and if you threaten him, you deserve the full force of our laws. If you don't like our democratic process, flawed as it may seem at times, go live somewhere where power is taken by force or given by birthright..

[Marvell Martin]

09:37 PM on 03/01/2012

That is so right !!!

[Matthew Chase Ruffino]

03:20 PM on 03/02/2012

You must be pretty blind. Because from what I've been seeing lately is that power over our people is taken by force...

[Tetragnathid]

07:32 PM on 02/29/2012

Aside from the illegal act--why does everyone always sensationally embellish everything. Come on...a "sniper-style pellet gun". That is a loaded word for sensationalism. Was it a pellet gun with a scope? How many snipers have ever used a pellet gun? One would really have to question their motives to do maximum damage. He is probably guilty as sin, but to use such loaded words is to convey the idea of being guilty purely as the opinion of the writer.

[sstuczynsk]

05:49 PM on 02/29/2012

I may not like Pres. Obama but he is our president. any threat should be taken seriously. this guy is an idiot. It is sad to tink that people say such things. If you do not like him, vote him out of office.

[MichaelAKD]

06:46 PM on 02/29/2012

i agree, i didn't support the bush presidency but it never once entered my mind to say or do anything so disturbing and stupid. you cannot make threats against the president, if you do you risk being brought up on charges and that has been codified as law for many decades.

[MyNinja]

04:19 PM on 02/29/2012

"Let's see what those (expletives) got."

Looks like they got your (explitive)!

[LSRules]

04:08 PM on 02/29/2012

In a society of one-uppers, cut this nonsense off at the knees.

[crrunch]

03:16 PM on 02/29/2012

This guy isn't too bright as is anyone who'd post something like that. This is one of the few times I back the powers that be. When it comes to the prez, whether you like him or not, no threats are taken as idle. And what would you think if it was ignored and this guy pulled it off? It'd be a whole other ballgame. Depending on your own views, security in this matter is darned if they do and darned if they don't. Better to be safe than sorry.

[IDSavant]

02:15 PM on 02/29/2012

Do not be stupid.....BIG BRO is watching you!

[gotribe12]

02:11 PM on 02/29/2012

Really dumb thing to post online, bad enough to even say things like this to friends but to put it on facebook. This dude is missing a couple of chromazones

[budyzer30]

02:10 PM on 02/29/2012

Does anyone here think this kid was serious?

Ignore the law for a minute. Ignore the fact that just making a threat is a felony. Ignore that the kid is an idiot. Ignore whether you like Obama or hate him.

Just ask yourself if you think his threat was genuine and if you think that the President was actually in any real danger from him.

I think he's a dumb kid with a big mouth that probably soiled his pants when the Secret Service showed up in his living room. I think he had no intention of harming the president. I think he deserves to suffer the consequences of his words, but I also think those consequences are going to be far, far less than five years in jail.

[SuperDW]

04:55 PM on 02/29/2012

Probably not, but we trip over our hindsight every time some event happens. "Someone was asleep at the switch!" "Warning signs were missed!" Better to err on the side of caution here.

[budyzer30]

06:12 PM on 02/29/2012

Oh yeah...I completely agree. My compliments to the Secret Service, they acted completely as they should have. If they hadn't responded and the kid was a real threat, we'd be having an entirely different conversation.

[American In Chicago]

05:26 PM on 02/29/2012

The Secret Service has to check every single one of these threats out. That costs us money and potentially distracts the administration's security detail away from real threats. Other potential irresponsible loudmouths must be shown clearly that there are consequences to this kind of behavior.

In order to create the maximum deterrence this kid should be prosecuted. And, I have no problem with the government seeking the full five year sentence. Let the judge decide whether leniency is merited.

[budyzer30]

05:54 PM on 02/29/2012

I completely agree...and you bring up very valid points. I was just noting that I think this will end up a non-issue in the end due to the lack of a real threat. However, the kid may have to pay for the Secret Service investigation in regard to his little spout off, which could easily end up in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. As well as do a little time or have this follow him around for the rest of his life.