U.S. Attorney: Westchester Man Arrested for Threatening to Shoot Police Officers

Jeremy Mott, 24, of Mount Vernon was arrested in White Plains Tuesday on charges of threatening to shoot Mount Vernon police officers, United States Attorney Preet Bharara announced.

Mott posted messages on Facebook and Instagram, which included digital images of officers being shot while sitting in a squad car, according to Bharara. One of the messages Mott allegedly wrote was, “I SWEAR IF COPS IN MOUNT VERNON THINK THEY CAN FOLLOW THE MADNESS THIS IS HOW THEY GOING TO END UP.”

Last month, two New York City police officers were shot and killed while sitting in their squad car. The crime sparked outrage across the nation.

If convicted, Mott could face a maximum of five year in prison.

“We will not tolerate threats of violence against police officers. Period,” said Bharara in a statement. “Here, as alleged, social media were used for the threat. Law enforcement should not have to wait to see whether a threat will be acted on, so now the defendant will have to answer for his threatening intentions, as charged.”

Below is the full press release from Bharara about the arrest:

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and George Venizelos, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the arrest of JEREMY MOTT on charges of threatening to shoot members of the Police Department of the City of Mount Vernon, New York. The Complaint alleges that MOTT posted messages on Internet social media sites in which he threatened to shoot Mount Vernon police officers and included a digital image depicting the shooting of a police officer.

MOTT was taken into federal custody today. He was presented in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith and was released on bond.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “We will not tolerate threats of violence against police officers. Period. Here, as alleged, social media were used for the threat. Law enforcement should not have to wait to see whether a threat will be acted on, so now the defendant will have to answer for his threatening intentions, as charged.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos stated: “As we seen all too often, social media is used as a platform for posting threats against members of the law enforcement community. As alleged, Mott made significant online threats in which he threatened to shoot Mount Vernon police officers. Those who threaten the lives of law enforcement officers through interstate communications will be fully investigated by the FBI and our partners.”

According to allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in White Plains federal court:

MOTT posted messages on Facebook and Instagram, both of which included digital images of an individual discharging a firearm into a police vehicle through the driver’s side window. The Facebook message included the threat, “I SWEAR IF COPS IN MOUNT VERNON THINK THEY CAN FOLLOW THE MADNESS THIS IS HOW THEY GOING TO END UP.” The Instagram message included the threat, “THEY BETTER KEEP THAT CRAZY SHYT AWAY FROM MOUNT VERNON CAUSE ME & MY [N****S] NOT PLAYING NO GAMES WITH THEM PPL ! !”

MOTT, 24, of Mount Vernon, New York, is charged with one count of making interstate threats, which upon conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester Violent Crimes Task Force, which comprises agents and detectives of the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the City of Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. He also thanked the Police Department of the City of Mount Vernon. He added that the investigation is continuing.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Zolkind is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.