Feds Arrest Wrong Man in Trump Assassination Threat
Ramón Morales Reyes was just dropping his child off at school in Milwaukee when agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him. It was May 22, 2025 — one day after a threatening letter addressed to ICE and signed in his name landed on a federal agent's desk. The letter claimed he would "shoot your precious president" and self-deport to Mexico, according to Law and Crime.
But what began as a national security concern quickly unraveled into something much stranger — a case of mistaken identity, or more precisely, an alleged frame-up.
A Threat, a Letter, and a Confession
The original letter, received by ICE on May 21, contained threats against President Donald Trump. It was handwritten, angry, and signed by Morales Reyes. It described deportations of his family and his supposed intent to carry out an assassination using a "30 yard 6" — a likely reference to a .30-06 rifle, according to Law and Crime.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the letter part of a pattern of threats and announced Morales Reyes' arrest with a press release and photo, posting both online, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
But almost immediately, law enforcement noticed inconsistencies. Morales Reyes, a 54-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, didn't read or write English fluently. When interviewed, he struggled to understand basic questions and could not have authored the grammatically incorrect but complex letter — at least, not convincingly.
Within days, another suspect emerged.
The Man Behind the Plot
Demetric Scott, who had an open felony case for allegedly stabbing and robbing Morales Reyes in September 2023, confessed to writing the threatening letter. According to court documents, Scott was trying to prevent Morales Reyes from testifying against him at a trial scheduled for July 2025.
Investigators reviewing Scott's jailhouse calls heard him discussing plans to have someone deported. When pressed, he admitted to writing the letters and enlisting someone to mail them. A subsequent search of his jail cell uncovered an envelope addressed to ICE and notes mentioning the Wisconsin attorney general's office.
Scott has since been charged with felony witness intimidation, identity theft, and bail jumping.
Meanwhile, Morales Reyes remains in ICE custody as he awaits a hearing to determine whether he poses a flight risk or danger to the community.
A Family Caught in the Crossfire
Morales Reyes has lived in the United States for over two decades, working as a dishwasher in Milwaukee. He has three children who are U.S. citizens and had applied for a U visa — a form of immigration relief available to victims of serious crimes who assist law enforcement.
His family and attorneys say the publicity surrounding his arrest — driven by the federal government's early announcement — put them at risk. Since Noem's press release, they say they've received death threats.
As of June 4, 2025, the original statement accusing Morales Reyes of threatening the president remained on the Department of Homeland Security's website, with no correction or update acknowledging the confession by Scott, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Bigger Picture
This case isn't just about one man wrongly accused. It raises broader questions about immigration enforcement, political rhetoric, and due process.
Why did federal officials so quickly publicize Morales Reyes' alleged guilt before fully vetting the evidence? How did a man accused of being a crime victim become the face of a national security threat?
And now, as he awaits his fate in an immigration court, Morales Reyes must not only fight for his freedom — he must also clear his name in a case where the government's own evidence seems to point elsewhere.
References: 'Shoot your precious president': Trump death-threat suspect penned handwritten letter saying he'd use his '30 yard 6' to kill POTUS for deporting his family, feds say | Wisconsin man allegedly framed for threatening Trump still could face deportation | Immigrant police say was framed in Trump threat case to stay in ICE custody | Police quickly suspected a man detained by ICE was framed for Trump death threat. Then Kristi Noem accused him of the crime.
