SOUTH JORDAN — A Midvale man accused of threatening to kill President Donald Trump during the president's visit to Utah in December now faces federal charges.
Travis Luke Dominguez, 33, who was previously convicted of 911 abuse, was arrested over the weekend by South Jordan police for investigation of 10 counts each of making terroristic threats, emergency telephone abuse and communications abuse.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that a federal grand jury had returned an 11-count indictment charging Dominguez with threats against the president, threats to injure others and giving false information.
Since Oct. 28, investigators say Dominguez has been using the Unified Police Department's anonymous tip website and the FBI's tip line to make multiple terroristic threats, including "use of weapons of mass destruction, threats to kill the president of the United States, threats to kill law enforcement, and threats to kill large quantities of citizens," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
All of the threats Dominguez is accused of making "generally involved an active shooter situation or the use of explosives," according to a statement from U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber's office.
The indictment alleges that Dominguez made threats to kill President Donald Trump during his visit to Utah on Dec. 4, as well as telling Unified police that he would injure police officers who tried to stop him.
"I'm a Navy Seal. … I woke up and decided going to kill the president, Donald Trump today. Please forgive me and then I will die by suicide by cop," one message stated, according to court documents.
Another message said: "I'm going to kill the sexist racist homophobic President Trump today. Nothing you can do to save President Trump nor stop me pigs," according to court documents.
Dominguez was "maliciously conveying false" information, according to Huber.
Several businesses were targeted, such as the Megaplex theaters in South Jordan, a credit card company in Sandy and several businesses in Midvale, including Sportsman Warehouse, the report states. Detectives discovered that Dominguez allegedly made most of his threats while using the public Wi-Fi at Wing Nutz at The District in South Jordan.
"Dominguez would constantly be in The District using the Wing Nutz Wi-Fi when most South Jordan threats were reported," according to the report.
After another threat was made on New Year's Eve, South Jordan police sent several officers to The District area where Dominguez's car was spotted and he was arrested.
South Jordan Police Lt. Matt Pennington said investigators believe Dominguez held anti-police sentiments and at one point claimed he wanted to "send a message" to law enforcers. He would often contact departments through a fake Facebook account, Pennington said. On another occasion, Dominguez claimed he was only trying to help police prepare and train for a mass casualty event, police said.
Dominguez pleaded guilty to emergency telephone abuse and vehicle burglary in 2003 in exchange for 14 other counts of emergency telephone abuse being dismissed, according to court records.