A federal grand jury in Chattanooga has returned a 22-count indictment against 44-year-old Garry Lee Williams of Knoxville, accusing him of using TikTok to post public threats to murder and maim national and local public officials, as well as members of his own family.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the indictment alleges that between January and April 2026, Williams made numerous public posts announcing his intent to commit violent acts and urging others to do the same. The charges include:

• 11 threats to murder President Trump

• 1 threat against a member of President Trump’s immediate family

• 7 threats to murder the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• 2 threats targeting the Knox County Sheriff and the Knoxville Police Chief

• 1 threat directed at multiple family members

Williams appeared in federal court in Knoxville on August 4, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin, where he pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained pending trial. His trial is scheduled for October 6, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Katherine A. Crytzer.

If convicted on all counts, Williams faces a maximum total sentence of 145 years in prison, along with fines of up to $250,000 per violation and up to three years of supervised release.

Note: An indictment contains only allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Knoxville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. is prosecuting the case.