A federal judge in Florida sentenced a Miami resident to two years in prison on Thursday for issuing death threats against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former State Department Special Envoy Kristi Noem, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Charges and Conviction
Jon Christopher Enríquez, aged 47, pleaded guilty in August to three counts of making threats via interstate communications. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to five years, making him liable for a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Federal Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida handed down a sentence of 24 months imprisonment.
The investigation was led by the Diplomatic Security Service of the State Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies.
Threats Made on Social Media
The threats date back to May 27, 2026, when Enríquez posted three public messages on the social media platform X, targeting both officials with specific execution times.
One message, directed at Rubio, stated: "Before you start thinking the U.S. owns Cuba and start calling it a failure, the Armed Forces Criminal Court is going to start an investigation on you as a failure to your nation."
Another post was even more explicit: "Rubio, Noem... You have been found guilty under Title 18 U.S. Code, Section 2384: Seditious Conspiracy. Both of you will be executed at 4:30 PM. We wish you the best in your future endeavors."
A third message claimed that the only way to stop Rubio from talking would be through death.
Background on the Victims
Rubio, whose parents immigrated from Cuba to the U.S. in 1956, became the first Hispanic to lead the State Department, confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2025, with unanimous support. He has taken a strong stance against the Cuban regime, advocating for the embargo and pushing for sanctions against dictatorship officials. In September 2026, he was officially named National Security Advisor, a position he had been holding on an interim basis since May 2025, in a rare dual role not seen since Henry Kissinger.
Noem served as Secretary of Homeland Security from January 2025 until March 2026, when President Trump dismissed her amid criticism of her performance. Subsequently, she was appointed as Special Envoy for the Americas Shield Initiative, a role she held during the time of the threats and until September 2026.
The sentence imposed by Judge Bloom is less than one-fifth of the maximum penalty Enríquez faced. The federal prosecutor's office emphasized that death threats against U.S. officials are serious offenses with severe repercussions.
Legal Implications of Threats Against U.S. Officials
What charges did Jon Christopher Enríquez face?
Jon Christopher Enríquez was charged with three counts of making threats through interstate communications, each carrying a potential sentence of up to five years.
What was the nature of the threats made by Enríquez?
Enríquez made explicit death threats against Marco Rubio and Kristi Noem on the social media platform X, specifying execution times.
Who led the investigation into the threats?
The investigation was led by the Diplomatic Security Service of the State Department, with collaboration from other law enforcement agencies.