Allen man indicted in alleged email threats against Trump, officials

A federal grand jury has indicted Allen resident Ronnie “Chip” Austin Jr. on charges that he sent threatening emails aimed at President Donald Trump and other government officials. The 56-year-old Collin County man now faces a case that began with messages sent online and led to a criminal investigation, arrest and court-ordered mental health review.

The indictment, filed June 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and made public June 24, alleges Austin sent emails between March 16 and May 17 that contained threatening language directed at the president, members of Congress, federal agencies and other elected officials. The messages made Austin sound like an active threat and a clear and present danger, and the indictment alleges he wrote about violence in the name of self-defense and urged the president to prepare for an attack.

Austin was arrested June 4 and made his first appearance June 5 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Aileen Goldman Durrett. The matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp and investigated by the FBI as part of Operation Take Back America.

Austin faces one count of threatening the president and one count of transmitting interstate communications containing threats to kidnap or injure. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison if he is convicted. The emails referred to the CIA, FBI, IRS and U.S. Supreme Court as part of Austin’s alleged grievances.

A federal judge later ordered Austin to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after his defense lawyer raised concerns about whether he is competent to stand trial. His attorney said Austin has a history of mental health treatment and may not be able to understand the proceedings or assist in his own defense. Prosecutors did not object to the request, and Austin remains in federal custody pending the examination.