Federal Jury Finds Minnesota Man Guilty of Transmitting Threat to Injure Former United States Attorney General

ST. PAUL - United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Tyler Maxon Avalos, 30, was found guilty by a federal jury of interstate transmission of a threat to injure the person of another. The guilty verdict was returned on November 4, 2026, following a federal jury trial before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson.

"The jury's guilty verdict today is the result of the continuing campaign by my office and federal law enforcement to target those that threaten violence in the political arena," said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. "As American society continues to be more politically polarized, those that threaten, commit, or induce others to commit acts of political violence are becoming more numerous, more brazen, and more dangerous.

"Just this year, this office has won the convictions of individuals that have threatened a total of eight federal judges, one United States Supreme Court justice, four members of the United States House of Representatives, and two members of the United States Senate.

"And it's more than threats: this year we won the conviction of an individual who assaulted a member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota; we charged three individuals with assaulting a journalist that they singled out for the journalist's assumed political views; we charged fifteen individuals with plotting and carrying out acts of violence in order to impede law enforcement; we charged an individual with plotting a mass-casualty attack at the Mall of America, motivated by the religion of the owners and of those he intended to shoot; and we obtained the guilty plea and sentence to consecutive life terms in prison for the assassin of the former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and her husband.

"In our current polarized environment in which bitter and violent speech has become commonplace, our society is becoming increasingly callous. That callousness is breeding increased threats, attempted violence, and deadly violence.

"Politically motivated threats and violence are a plague on our society. Rest assured, however, that federal law enforcement agencies are on high alert, at all times, for such threats and violence, and the United States Attorney's Office remains committed to prosecuting all perpetrators."

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 9, 2025, a Michigan user of an internet-based social media platform observed a post that the user believed threatened then-United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The user reported the post to the FBI, stating that the post was "[i]mposing a hit on Pam bondi for $45,000 posting it on [the social media platform] his user name is @liminalvoidslip." The threatening post featured a photograph of then-Attorney General Pamela Bondi with a sniper-scope-style red-dot crosshair imposed on her forehead, and words stating that she was "wanted" "dead or alive," "preferably dead." The person who made the post also included a comment below the post that read, "when they don't serve us then what?"

The FBI traced the threatening post to Avalos. Avalos's social media profile page contained various symbols associated with anarchists, including a link to an "Anarchist FAQ." Avalos had a criminal history that includes a felony stalking conviction in 2022 in Dakota County, Minnesota, and a felony domestic battery conviction in 2016 in Polk County, Florida. Avalos additionally had several misdemeanor domestic-assault convictions.

Avalos used several social media platforms to engage with, promote, or post content that celebrated the killing of Charlie Kirk. His accounts also made references to Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of the United Healthcare CEO, including one post featuring an image of a sticker reading "be the Luigi you want to see in the world," followed by an anarchist symbol.

Post made by Avalos depicting a sticker reading, "BE THE LUIGI YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD," followed by an anarchist symbol

Avalos's social media accounts posted other comments, including, "I bet if politicians got kirked they'd start acting right," "do you expect to remove fascists from power without bloodshed," "feds need it next," and "the whole administrations needs to be put on a wall."

A review of Avalos's phone seized during a search of his residence uncovered other materials including a video narrated by Avalos stating that he believed he knew where a CEO of a technology company lived with his wife and child. In the video, Avalos said, "Since we got the brave souls that are targeting CEOs, I think that he should be next on the list, because obvious reason. Don't disappoint please…"

This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.

First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Teirab and Assistant United States Attorneys David Green and Benjamin Bejar are prosecuting this case.