President Joe Biden gives remarks on student debt relief at Delaware State University on October 21, 2022, in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.)
A New York resident, who last year made threats against then-President Joe Biden, has been sentenced to prison. This individual, Troy Kelly, openly declared on social media his intention to “put a bullet” in Biden, referring to him as an “old f—.” While the Department of Justice had sought a two-year sentence, Kelly’s punishment, as determined by Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes, diverged from these expectations.
Judge Sannes, appointed by President Obama, opted to impose a six-month prison sentence for Kelly, who had pleaded guilty to one count of making threats against the president. Additionally, Kelly is required to undergo mental health treatment and will be under supervised release for three years following his incarceration. Kelly’s defense attorney had argued for a sentence without jail time.
In a sentencing memo dated December 1, Kelly’s lawyer, Timothy Austin, attributed his client’s actions to a tumultuous upbringing and the negative influences of social media. “At 19, Troy had faced significant trauma and a challenging family environment,” Austin noted, suggesting that online platforms contributed to Kelly’s mindset.
“At the time of the incident, he was an immature young man struggling to manage his frustrations and anger,” Austin explained. “His view of the world, including government and politics, was shaped largely by the internet—an environment that often incites anger. Influenced by political figures and commentators who thrive on divisive rhetoric, young Troy echoed what he observed.”
The threat surfaced in a criminal complaint when authorities discovered a post made by Kelly on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now called “X.” Using the handle “@CountryBoyTroy0” and the display name “Troy Kelly,” he made the threatening post on May 17, 2024. This was in response to Biden’s celebratory post for the “International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.”
The threat was posted on May 17, 2024, in response to a post from Biden celebrating “International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.”
“On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, my administration stands in solidarity with LGBTQI+ people around the world as they seek to live lives free from hate-fueled violence and discrimination,” Biden wrote. “It’s a matter of human rights, plain and simple.”
In response, Kelly fired off a post saying, “I really hope to see u old f—.”
“Gonna put a bullet in your head if I ever catch you,” he added. “Get the f— out of office.”
Investigators traced the username back to an IP address in Schroon Lake, New York, 250 miles north of Manhattan. Kelly used an email address associated with the account.
In an interview with a federal agent, he admitted to posting the threat and said “it’s true” when asked why he posted the statement.
“I asked Kelly if he still wants to kill President Biden and Kelly stated, ‘If I could, I would,’” the agent wrote in the complaint. “I asked Kelly why he wants to kill President Biden and Kelly replied by saying that President Biden and his son are a disgrace.”
Following the interview, two black powder rifles with optics were seized from Kelly’s room. A further review of his social media page showed that Kelly, on May 31, 2024, had responded to another Biden X post by writing, “We should just off this old f— already,” and “Biden. Your times coming. If not by my hand then someone else’s. You’ll see,” according to federal prosecutors.
Austin had asked Judge Sannes to give Kelly credit for time served. He has been out on pretrial release and electronically monitored home detention since July 1, 2024, at which point he had spent approximately seven days in custody after his initial arrest.
“He has benefited greatly from mental health treatment,” Austin concluded. “Going through this prosecution has been a stark wake-up call for Troy, expediting his maturation. He appreciates the seriousness of this crime and realizes the very real consequences of his actions, and he understands he must pay a steep price in the form of a felony conviction and the consequences thereof.”
