California man arrested, accused of threatening JD Vance on Disney Instagram
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A California man has been arrested following a federal criminal complaint alleging he made online death threats against Vice President J.D. Vance during his visit to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim in July.
Marco Antonio Aguayo, 22, of Anaheim, was taken into custody Friday after he posted several threatening comments on Disney’s official Instagram account, referencing pipe bombs, impending bloodshed and acts of violence against “corrupt politicians.” On July 12, the day Vance and his family visited and stayed at the facility.
Aguayo was accused of threatening the president and his presidential successors, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
He is expected to make his first appearance Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.
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Vice President J.D. Vance was visiting Disneyland in California when the alleged threats were posted on social media. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This case is a terrible reminder of the dangers public officials face from deranged criminals who could harm them,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a Justice Department news release announcing Aguayo’s arrest. “I am grateful that my friend Vice President Vance and his family are safe, appreciate the police work that led to the arrest, and will ensure that my prosecutors deliver swift justice.”
Just before 6:15 p.m. on July 12, an Instagram account posted a public comment on the Disney page stating, “Pipe bombs have been placed in preparation for the arrival of J.D. Vance,” according to an affidavit from a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent.
A later comment said, “It’s time for us to stand up and you will witness it,” and a third comment added: “Good luck if we find them all in time, there will be blood shed tonight and we will bathe in the blood of corrupt politicians.”
Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California on November 25, 2023. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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Using records from Meta, Google and other sources, investigators tracked down Aguayo’s email address, phone numbers, IP addresses and the Instagram account allegedly used to post threats against his home in Anaheim.
Investigators questioned Aguayo at his home and found that he initially claimed his account had been hacked, but later admitted that he was “joking” to delete the posts, authorities said.
They are guests of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where Vice President J.D. Vance visited with this family in July. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County, credited via Getty Images)
Aguayo consented to a search of his phone, bedroom and laptop, where investigators confirmed he was logged into the account that made the posts, according to the affidavit.
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“We will not tolerate criminal threats against public officials,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in the press release. “We are grateful that the vice president and his family remained safe during their visit. Let this case be a warning to anyone who thinks they can make anonymous online threats. We will find you and bring you to justice.”
