A federal grand jury in Columbia has indicted Eric Anthony Rome Jr., a 37-year-old inmate at the South Carolina Department of Corrections, on two counts related to sending threatening communications. The indictment alleges that in January, Rome sent a letter to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in Chicago containing threats and derogatory remarks about the Jewish community. The letter ended with, “Enjoy having Trump in office while you can because we are going to kill him too.” Rome signed his full name to the correspondence.
According to authorities, Rome is currently serving a state sentence for armed robbery. He has previously been convicted twice at the federal level for threatening the president of the United States. After completing his state sentence in 2030, he is scheduled to begin serving a five-year federal sentence stemming from similar offenses.
If convicted on these new charges, Rome could face up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. State Department, and South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston D. Holliday Jr. is prosecuting the case.
“All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” according to prosecutors.
