Grants Man Arrested for Posting Threats on Internet
| U.S. Attorney’s Office December 19, 2012 |
ALBUQUERQUE—This morning the FBI arrested Paulo Nikko Peral, 20, of Grants, New Mexico, on a criminal complaint charging him with transmitting a threat to injure another in interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 875(c). Paulo’s arrest was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales and Carol K.O. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Division of the FBI.
Peral made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon. He remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing which are scheduled for tomorrow morning.
The criminal complaint alleges that Peral asked whether he “should go up to [his] school and start shooting people” in a posting on an Internet website that allows individuals to post questions and answers. In a subsequent Internet posting, Peral allegedly said, “Its [sic] not a joke. I planned it and now all I have to do is actions.”
If convicted of the offense charged in the complaint, Peral faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment. A complaint merely establishes probable cause. Peral is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI and the Grants Police Department, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Barth.