A Murfreesboro man has been arrested following a criminal complaint that charged him with threatening to murder a United States official.
David Rivera, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, said 36-year-old Keahiokahouna Stewart was taken into custody by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Capitol Police Friday morning at his Murfreesboro home.
The criminal complaint stated Stewart sent threatening emails and posted threatening videos he created to Instagram between August and September 12.
Authorities said Stewart claimed he would fly from Nashville to Honolulu on November 1 to shoot people at the Princess Jonah Federal Building.
Reports stated the specific targets included U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, who represents the State of Hawaii, and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who represents the 2nd District for the State of Hawaii.
The criminal complaint began in November 2013. It outlined how Stewart allegedly sent “Grievances” to different U.S. officials and departments. The two aforementioned targets were included.
Allegedly, Stewart falsely believed his Social Security number had been duplicated and issued to a fellow soldier. He had met the soldier while stationed at Camp Stanley in Korea in 2002.
In messages he sent to the Social Security Administration and the Department of Defense, Stewart demanded he be awarded 100 percent disability and $50 billion.
In May 2015, Stewart was still under investigation when he visited Senator Hirono’s office in Washington, D.C. That visit resulted in the U.S. Capitol Police being called.
Stewart then took to Facebook and Instagram where he posted comments on the issue and photos of himself with firearms.
On September 8, Stewart made the comment about flying to Honolulu on November 1. He added he would be traveling with an AR-15 and two handguns. Stewart also said he had shipped a silencer for one of the handguns. The silencer was allegedly being stored in a garage in Waianae, Hawaii.
According to investigators, Stewart had purchased a plane ticket for November 1. However, they said it had been “exchanged,” meaning it could be used on any other date.
Stewart has been set to face up to ten years in prison if convicted on the charge of threatening to murder a U.S. official. Authorities said he could face up to five years in prison on the charge of communicating threats through interstate commerce.
Officials put out a reminder that a criminal complaint is just an accusation, and the defendant has always been presumed innocent until proven guilty.
