Carl Howard Payne Jr., a 58-year-old man from Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been charged with federal crimes after allegedly sending death threats to President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Tesla owners across the United States.

Payne is accused of distributing emails titled “Declaration of War” that detailed plans to kill Musk, Trump and others, with threats directed at government officials and the public. These emails were sent to media organizations starting in March 2025.

Federal prosecutors said that in a March 20 email, Payne allegedly wrote, “We have declared war on the 47th Presidential Cabinet of the United States of America and are sharing details of Our first Operation.”

Federal prosecutors say Payne’s threats were sent via email and physical letters, with his communications claiming responsibility for upcoming attacks. According to court documents, Payne declared in one of his emails, “We will continue this Operation until Elon Musk’s death,” and further stated that Musk “is no longer welcome to be alive.” Authorities traced the emails, which originated from a Proton Mail account, back to Payne through IP address data and other evidence collected during the investigation.

The emails were sent to the New York offices of ProPublica, Thomson Reuters, and several other media outlets in different states. Thomson Reuters is a multinational media and information company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It provides news and data for professionals in legal, financial, tax, accounting, and media sectors. It is widely known for its Reuters News division, which delivers global news coverage in various formats, including print, broadcast, and online.

The threats outlined that attacks would occur “at their homes, on the road, while shopping, or at Nazi charging stations,” a derogatory term Payne allegedly used to describe Tesla charging stations. His writings also mentioned the use of guns and guitar strings as weapons, and referenced past violent figures such as Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

Authorities state that Payne was preparing for a broader campaign called “Operation: Swasticar,” aimed at Tesla owners and Musk. In a section titled “Advice,” he allegedly warned municipalities with many Teslas to prepare for electric vehicle fires and toxic smoke, suggesting the need for HAZMAT teams. The emails also indicated that Payne believed media outlets failed to hold government officials accountable, which he claimed justified his planned violence. He cited a recent case involving Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, using it to rationalize his threats against public figures.

Federal agents arrested Payne after tracking his online activities. His internet history included searches about Timothy McVeigh and information on weapons. During a search of Payne’s residence, law enforcement recovered three firearms, including a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol that matched details mentioned in his emails.

In addition to the emails, Payne is accused of attempting to send similar threats by postal mail to insurance companies, falsely listing the return address as “The White House,” though the letters were postmarked from Denver. Investigators linked these physical letters to him using postal data and surveillance.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado charged Payne with interstate communication of threats, a crime that carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release. Payne, who previously worked in technology management, has no significant criminal record aside from a past citation for an expired vehicle registration. When questioned by the FBI, Payne denied sending the threatening communications.

Payne appeared in federal court in Denver on April 22 for a detention hearing. The case is being handled by the FBI’s Denver Field Office and is still under investigation.

The documents also reveal that Payne’s threats coincided with the date April 17, 2025, which he marked as the beginning of his planned actions. Federal prosecutors included this timeline in the charges, pointing out his reference to “newsworthy killings” starting on that date.

Officials are also reviewing Payne’s connections to various online communities and digital platforms where similar rhetoric might have been shared. There is no current indication of other individuals involved, and Payne is believed to have acted alone.