A TikTok video that appeared to offer a $45,000 bounty for a “hit” on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has led to the arrest of a 29-year-old man in Minnesota, according to the FBI. This alarming incident was reported by a concerned individual who saw the post, which featured crosshairs over Bondi’s forehead, suggesting a murder-for-hire plot.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Maxon Avalos. He faces charges of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person, a crime detailed under federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). If convicted, Avalos could face up to five years in prison. This statute specifically targets threats to kidnap or injure individuals, reflecting the serious nature of such offenses.

The case first came to light when a TikTok user from Michigan reported the ominous post to federal authorities on October 9. The tipster described the content as a murder-for-hire solicitation, prompting immediate investigation.

Court documents reveal a chilling image: a wanted poster featuring Pam Bondi’s face overlaid with a “sniper-scope red dot.” Accompanying text offered a reward of $45,000 for Bondi, “DEAD OR ALIVE,” with a disturbing note of preference for her death. The caption ominously questioned, “*cough cough* when they don’t serve us then what?”

The FBI identified the TikTok account responsible for this post under the username “Wacko,” which included an anarchist symbol in place of the letter “a.” This case underscores the persistent threat environment faced by public officials and the critical role of vigilant citizens in alerting authorities to potential dangers.

The FBI said that the TikTok poster had the username “Wacko” with an anarchist symbol in place of the “a.”

“Additionally, the suspect user’s TikTok page had a link to An Anarchist FAQ book pinned to his page,” court documents said.

The feds added that Avalos was arrested in St. Paul on Oct. 16, after investigators checked “Minnesota state supervision records” and found him at the same address listed in that database due to his prior “criminal history.”

The TikTok post allegedly targeting Attorney General Pam Bondi (DOJ).

“Your Affiant also checked Avalos’s criminal history and learned that he has a multistate conviction history including a July 2022 felony stalking conviction from Dakota County, an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery from Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault from Dakota County, which appears to have been reduced from a felony domestic assault by strangulation charge,” the FBI affidavit said.

Court documents from Wednesday additionally showed that U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko granted Avalos a release from custody, subject to various conditions. Those conditions included no travel outside of Minnesota, continuing mental health treatment, no possession of weapons, no consumption of alcohol, a curfew, GPS monitoring, and no internet access without approval.

The government will have to prove that the post in question constituted a “true threat,” which could be a steep hill to climb in this case given the First Amendment’s protections of political speech and hyperbole.

Law&Crime sought comment from Avalos’ attorney of record, Daniel Gerdts.

In response, the attorney said he had no comment “except to note that” his client “is not guilty of any crime.”