A Florida man accused of repeatedly calling the NAACP eventually escalated from inflammatory and sexually charged calls to threats involving former President Barack Obama and the organization’s leadership, federal prosecutors say.
But one alleged threat came with a small problem.
The caller apparently knew he wanted to reference an assault rifle. He just was not entirely clear on which one.
According to federal investigators, he threatened to walk into an NAACP office with an “AK 57, or whatever you call those things.”
Dozens Of Calls
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida says 47-year-old Jeremiah James Schwier of Dunnellon was arrested Aug. 26 and charged by criminal complaint with interstate transmission of a threat to injure.
Between April and May, the NAACP received approximately 60 calls from phone numbers investigators later linked to Schwier, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors described those calls as sexual in nature and said they included inflammatory language.
Then came the May 20 call.
Investigators say a caller with a voice similar to Schwier’s told NAACP staff that he would walk into the organization’s office with an “AK 57, or whatever you call those things.”
The rifle he presumably had in mind was an AK-47.
Things Allegedly Escalated
By August, prosecutors say the NAACP had received another 14 similar calls.
Those calls allegedly included threats to kill former President Barack Obama as well as the NAACP’s president and CEO.
Federal investigators obtained Schwier’s cellphone records and say the records showed calls from his phone to the specific NAACP number receiving the threats.
Investigators also said the timing of numerous calls from Schwier’s phone was generally consistent with when the threats were received.
The FBI investigated the case with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Marion County booking records show Schwier was booked at 10:28 a.m. Aug. 26 on a federal hold for the FBI.
Now It Is A Federal Case
Schwier remains detained while the federal case proceeds, according to prosecutors.
He faces one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure.
If convicted, he could face up to five years in federal prison.
The charge is contained in a criminal complaint and has not been proven in court. Schwier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.