Toledo Man Arrested for Threatening VP Vance, Charged with CSAM Possession

Federal prosecutors say Shannon Mathre, 33, made a lethal threat against the Vice President and was found to have child sexual abuse materials.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A Toledo man was arrested after allegedly making a threat to kill Vice President JD Vance and was found to be in possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) during the investigation, leading to federal charges that carry heavy penalties. Shannon Mathre, 33, was taken into custody by the U.S. Secret Service and is now facing charges related to the threat against the VP as well as separate counts for the receipt and distribution of CSAM.

Why it matters

Threats against public officials are taken extremely seriously by federal authorities, who emphasize that online rhetoric can lead to real-world consequences. The discovery of CSAM during the investigation also shifted the case to include additional serious federal offenses, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the coordinated response from law enforcement.

The details

Federal prosecutors say Mathre allegedly declared, "I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him." The arrest came as VP Vance was traveling in Northwest Ohio. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Mathre had "multiple digital files of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM)" in his possession, leading to additional charges related to the receipt and distribution of CSAM from late 2025 to early 2026.

  • On February 6, 2026, Shannon Mathre was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service.
  • On February 6, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Mathre.
  • Mathre's initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate was on February 6, 2026.
  • Mathre's detention hearing is scheduled for February 11, 2026.

The players

Shannon Mathre

A 33-year-old Toledo resident who was arrested and charged with making a threat to kill Vice President JD Vance and possession of child sexual abuse materials.

JD Vance

The current Vice President of the United States, who was the target of the alleged threat made by Shannon Mathre.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who stated that "You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice" in reference to the case against Mathre.

Todd Blanche

The Deputy Attorney General who framed the dual nature of the prosecution against Mathre, stating that federal law enforcement discovered he was in possession of child sexual abuse materials while arresting him for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President.

David Toepfer

The U.S. Attorney who vowed that "violent threats" such as the one made against VP Vance "will not be tolerated" and that those responsible will face swift prosecution.

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What they’re saying

“You can hide behind a screen, but you cannot hide from this Department of Justice.”

— Pam Bondi, Attorney General (libertyonenews.com)

“Our attorneys are vigorously prosecuting this disgusting threat against Vice President Vance.”

— Pam Bondi, Attorney General (libertyonenews.com)

“While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in and of itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials.”

— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General (libertyonenews.com)

“Violent threats such as the one made against Vance will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face swift prosecution.”

— David Toepfer, U.S. Attorney (libertyonenews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on February 11, 2026 whether or not to allow Shannon Mathre out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating threats against elected officials, as well as their commitment to pursuing any additional criminal activity uncovered during investigations. The coordinated response from law enforcement agencies underscores the importance of protecting public servants and cracking down on the exploitation of children.