Miami man sentenced for threatening Marco Rubio

MIAMI, FLORIDA — November 13, 2026 — A 47-year-old Miami man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to making death threats against U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Jon Christopher Enriquez received a 24-month federal prison sentence following a case involving threatening messages published on the social media platform X.

The U.S. Department of Justice publicly announced the sentence on November 12, 2026.

What Happened?

According to federal prosecutors, Enriquez posted three threatening messages on May 27, 2026, targeting Rubio and Noem.

The messages included threats that the two federal officials would be executed at specified times.

Federal authorities investigated the posts, and Enriquez was subsequently prosecuted on three counts involving the transmission of threats through interstate communications.

Enriquez pleaded guilty before receiving his sentence.

Federal Judge Imposes Prison Sentence

U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom sentenced Enriquez to 24 months in federal prison.

The case was prosecuted in the Southern District of Florida, which handles federal criminal matters in Miami and surrounding communities.

The prosecution underscores the potential criminal consequences of communicating threats of violence against public officials, including through social media platforms.

When Was the Sentence Announced?

Although the Department of Justice released its public announcement on November 12, local reporting indicates that the sentencing hearing took place on October 16, 2026.

The distinction is important: the latest development is the federal government’s official announcement of the sentence.

Threats and Freedom of Speech

Americans have the constitutional right to criticize elected officials, government policies and political decisions.

However, the First Amendment does not protect legally defined true threats of violence.

Federal law allows prosecutors to pursue criminal charges when threatening communications meet the applicable legal requirements.

The Enriquez case illustrates the distinction between protected political expression and criminal threats.