Grand jury indicts Virginia man who allegedly threatened vice president, adds more charges

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WHSV) – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment Wednesday against a Winchester man accused of allegedly making online threats to kill, kidnap or injure Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama.

The man, Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, had previously been arrested and charged with one count of allegedly threatening Harris through thousands of posts and responses on online forums. The U.S. Attorney’s Office describes the new indictment, like any other, as “a mere accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”

The charges against Carillo have now increased to a total of 14, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office.

The charges against Carillo are as follows:

• Five charges filed against Vice President Kamala Harris for threats
• Five counts of interstate communications with threats to kidnap or injure Vice President Harris
• Two charges for threats against former President Barack Obama
• Two counts of interstate communications with threats to kidnap or injure former President Obama

FBI authorities in Richmond had previously executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home on Aug. 2 and seized a 9mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition, the statement said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is handling the case.

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