A federal aviation employee from New Hampshire is facing criminal charges after prosecutors allege he carried out a series of disturbing online searches and later sent a direct threat to the White House targeting President Donald Trump, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Authorities say 35-year-old Dean DelleChiaie, a mechanical engineer employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), used a government-issued work computer in late January to search topics including how to bring a firearm into a federal facility, prior assassination attempts against Trump, and the phrase “I am going to kill Donald John Trump.”
Investigators also say he searched information about public support for harming the president and the home address of high-ranking officials, according to WMUR.
According to court filings, the activity escalated weeks later when DelleChiaie allegedly used a personal email account to send a message to a publicly accessible White House inbox.
In that message, prosecutors say he explicitly threatened to “neutralize/kill” the president while referencing political grievances.
The email triggered a federal investigation led by the U.S. Secret Service, which handles threats against the president.
Law enforcement officials later interviewed DelleChiaie in February, during which he reportedly acknowledged conducting the searches and admitted ownership of multiple firearms stored at his home.
Authorities say he expressed regret over his actions during questioning but confirmed details of the online activity.
Investigators also noted he requested deletion of search history from his work device prior to the inquiry, NHPR reported.
Additional details from court documents describe behavioral indicators that contributed to the investigation, including handwritten notes and statements found during the probe.
Prosecutors also cited concerns about his mental state, including reported stress, substance use, and personal frustration tied to political developments. These factors are now part of the broader evidentiary record in the case.
The Secret Service has emphasized that threat investigations typically focus on whether a credible threat was made, whether the individual has the capability to carry it out, and whether there is access to means of attack.
Officials say those criteria guided their response after the email was discovered and the suspect was identified.
Following his arrest, prosecutors charged DelleChiaie with interstate communication of a threat against the president, a federal offense carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
He appeared in federal court and was ordered detained without bail after prosecutors argued he posed a danger to the public.
The defense has pushed back on continued detention, noting he has no prior criminal record and requesting release under supervision.
However, the judge ruled that he will remain in custody pending further proceedings, with a probable cause hearing scheduled later this month.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing, with the Secret Service continuing to assess the full scope of the suspect’s activity and intent.
The FAA has placed him on administrative leave while the case moves forward through the federal court system.
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