A federal aviation employee from New Hampshire has been criminally charged after prosecutors alleged he conducted a series of disturbing online searches and subsequently sent a direct threat to the White House targeting President Donald Trump. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the charges against 35-year-old Dean DelleChiaie, a mechanical engineer employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to court filings, the alleged activity began in late January when DelleChiaie reportedly used a government-issued work computer to search for topics including how to bring a firearm into a federal facility, prior assassination attempts against President Trump, and the explicit phrase "I am going to kill Donald John Trump." Investigators also state that DelleChiaie searched for information regarding public support for harming the president and the home addresses of high-ranking officials, as reported by WMUR.
Weeks after these online searches, the activity reportedly escalated. Prosecutors allege that DelleChiaie used a personal email account to send a message to a publicly accessible White House inbox. In this email, he explicitly threatened to "neutralize/kill" President Trump, while also referencing political grievances. This message prompted a federal investigation led by the U.S. Secret Service, the agency responsible for protecting the president and investigating threats against them.
Law enforcement officials interviewed DelleChiaie in February. During the interview, he reportedly acknowledged conducting the online searches and admitted to owning multiple firearms stored at his home. Authorities noted that DelleChiaie expressed regret over his actions during questioning but confirmed the details of the online activity. Investigators also highlighted that he had requested the deletion of his search history from his work device prior to the Secret Service inquiry, according to NHPR.
Court documents provided additional details regarding behavioral indicators that contributed to the investigation. These included handwritten notes and statements discovered during the probe. Prosecutors also cited concerns about DelleChiaie's mental state, noting reported stress, substance use, and personal frustration linked to political developments. These factors are now part of the broader evidentiary record in the ongoing case.
The Secret Service has publicly stated that its threat investigations typically focus on three key criteria: whether a credible threat was made, whether the individual possesses the capability to carry out the threat, and whether they have access to the means of attack. Officials confirmed that these criteria guided their response after the email threat was discovered and DelleChiaie was identified.
Following his arrest, DelleChiaie was charged with interstate communication of a threat against the president, a federal offense. If convicted, this charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He appeared in federal court, where prosecutors argued that he posed a danger to the public, leading to his detention without bail.
The defense has challenged DelleChiaie's continued detention, emphasizing his lack of a prior criminal record and requesting his release under supervision. However, the presiding judge ruled that DelleChiaie will remain in custody pending further proceedings. A probable cause hearing has been scheduled for later this month.
Officials have stated that the investigation remains ongoing, with the Secret Service continuing to assess the full scope of DelleChiaie's activity and intent. In response to the charges, the FAA has placed DelleChiaie on administrative leave while the case progresses through the federal court system.
