A Federal Aviation Administration contractor in New Hampshire faces federal charges after authorities accuse him of emailing the White House to threaten President Donald Trump’s life. Federal prosecutors announced Monday that Dean DelleChiaie, 35, of Nashua, is charged with interstate communication of a threat against the president. According to court filings, DelleChiaie used his personal email account on April 21 to send a message in which he identified himself and wrote that he was going to “neutralize/kill” the president.
The criminal complaint traces the threat back to January, when authorities say DelleChiaie used his government-issued work computer to conduct a series of targeted searches. Federal prosecutors state he looked up information on how to smuggle firearms into federal buildings, researched what percentage of the population wanted the president dead, and sought the home address of the vice president along with the names of the vice president’s children.
The search activity came to light when DelleChiaie contacted the FAA’s information technology department and asked them to wipe his browser history. Rather than comply, FAA IT staff reported the deletion request to federal authorities. The agency subsequently suspended DelleChiaie from his mechanical engineering contract work, according to the government filing.
On Feb. 3, Secret Service agents and local police officers visited DelleChiaie at his home to question him about the searches. Secret Service Special Agent Nathaneal Gamble wrote in the affidavit that DelleChiaie admitted to making the inquiries and expressed remorse during the interview. Investigators noted that DelleChiaie told them he was depressed and upset with the Trump administration, but he maintained at the time that he owned three firearms and had no interest in planning assassinations.
DelleChiaie was expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday before a federal magistrate. An attorney representing DelleChiaie did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
The arrest arrives during an active period for presidential security operations. DelleChiaie was taken into custody just over a week after law enforcement confronted Cole Tomas Allen, who police allege attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner armed with firearms and knives. A Secret Service officer wearing body armor sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound during that confrontation.
Federal prosecutors did not allege that the FAA employee’s activities were connected to the dinner incident. The charge of interstate communication of a threat carries potential federal penalties, including imprisonment, though sentencing guidelines are determined separately by the court.