Crime
54-Year-Old Ramon Morales Reyes Arrested for Threatening to Assassinate Former President Donald Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. immigration authorities have arrested a 54-year-old Mexican national, Ramon Morales Reyes, who is accused of threatening to assassinate former President Donald Trump, according to a statement released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to DHS, Morales Reyes allegedly sent a threatening letter to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, in which he stated his intent to “shoot your precious president in [his] head” at one of Trump’s campaign rallies.
The handwritten letter also expressed anger toward U.S. immigration policies, accusing the government of deporting his family members, though it did not identify anyone by name.
The letter, published in part by DHS, included inflammatory language: “We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans – we have done more for this country than you white people.”
The arrest comes amid heightened security concerns following two previous assassination attempts targeting Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, including a shooting incident at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Both of those suspects were U.S. citizens.
In response to the latest threat, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a statement urging a de-escalation in political rhetoric: “
All politicians and members of the media should take notice of these repeated attempts on President Trump’s life and tone down their rhetoric.”
DHS further stated that Morales Reyes had a long history of illegal entries into the U.S., having unlawfully crossed the border at least nine times between 1998 and 2005. His criminal record includes a felony hit-and-run and other prior offenses.
Morales Reyes is currently in ICE custody in Wisconsin and is awaiting deportation proceedings, DHS confirmed. The investigation into the threat is ongoing.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.