Knoxville Man Indicted on 22 Counts For Making Threats To Kill Public Officals

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On July 28, 2026, a federal grand jury in Chattanooga returned a 22 count indictment against Garry Lee Williams, 44, of Knoxville, for posting public threats on TikTok to murder and maim national public officials, Knox County public officials, and members of Williams's own family, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) (threats against the President), 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) (interstate threats), and 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) and (b)(4) (threats to murder federal law enforcement officer). On August 4, 2026, Fields appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville. Williams pleaded not guilty and was detained in custody pending trial, which has been set for October 6, 2026, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The indictment alleges that from January through April 2026, Williams used TikTok to make numerous public posts announcing his intent to murder and maim public officials, and exhorting others to do the same. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Williams made 11 separate threats to murder President Trump, one threat to murder a member of President Trump's immediate family, seven separate threats to murder the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), two threats to murder the Knox County Sheriff and the Chief of the Knoxville Police Department, and one threat to murder numerous family members.

If convicted, Williams faces a total term of 145 years in prison. The maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) is five years; the maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) is five years; and the maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) and (b)(4) is 10 years. Each violation also includes a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Terence G. Reilly, of the Nashville Field Office of the FBI, made the announcement.

This indictment is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Knox County Sheriff's Office, and the Knoxville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

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