ORLANDO, Fla. — A 26-year-old Massachusetts man was sentenced to nine years and 11 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine for making interstate threats to injure U.S. Congressman Randy Fine and his children.
U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe handed down the sentence following Guerrero’s guilty plea on March 23.
The federal charges stem from a series of antisemitic social media posts sent between Aug. 10 and Aug. 15, 2024.
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Federal prosecutors said Guerrero targeted the lawmaker and his two minor sons with direct threats of violence, which the court ruled were motivated by hate.
According to court documents, Guerrero sent four threatening social media messages directed at then-state Rep. Fine from an IP address in Spain.
In one post, Guerrero wrote, “Looks like I’m taking a little field trip to brevard county Florida let’s play a game @VoteRandyFine,” accompanied by a photograph of an individual holding what appeared to be a firearm.
In subsequent messages, Guerrero attached a photograph of a deceased male with severe head trauma. He wrote, “@VoteRandyFine when he steps out in Florida don’t worry your two little precious. Jewish boys will suffer the same fate,” and added, “This is gonna be Fine very very soon ... see you in Florida !”
In a fourth post, Guerrero messaged, “Why don’t you show us where you’re at? @VoteRandyFine your scared of getting your brains blown in ? Don’t worry we’ll make sure your sons watch ...”
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Federal agents interviewed Guerrero after he returned to the United States, where he admitted using his social media account to send the threatening messages.
A search of Guerrero’s phone revealed a search history containing antisemitic and anti-Israel content, including searches for “israel should burn in hell.”
During the sentencing hearing, Fine testified about the terrifying impact the threats had on his family, stating that the comments targeting his children “made my blood run cold.” Fine described his distress during the harassment. “My boys are now victims of a crime,” Fine said. “I was afraid for me and I was afraid for my boys.”
“Threats of intimidation or harm against public officials or anyone for their political or religious beliefs will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe emphasized. “We will take such acts seriously and prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Judge Moe noted during sentencing that Guerrero’s threats were motivated by hate, stressing the severity of threats against Jewish people and the necessity of deterrence for threats against elected officials.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Richardson-Jones.
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