Boston — A federal judge on Sept. 23 sentenced a Massachusetts man to 9 years, 11 months in prison for threatening U.S. Rep. Randy Fine and the congressman’s young sons in a series of antisemitic social media posts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Federal court hands down nearly decade-long sentence
Edwin Guerrero, 26, pleaded guilty March 23 to making interstate threats to injure another person. U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe also ordered Guerrero to pay a $15,000 fine.
Prosecutors said Guerrero posted the threats on the social media platform X over several days in August 2024. The posts included images of a firearm and an image of a deceased man with head trauma, officials said. Investigators traced the messages to an IP address in Spain associated with Guerrero, who had made plans to travel to Brevard County, Fla.
"My boys are now victims of a crime,"
Rep. Fine told the court that his children had been directly affected by the threats, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Investigation, arrest and evidence
Authorities said Guerrero admitted to posting the messages after returning to the United States. A search of his phone reportedly turned up antisemitic and anti‑Israel search history, which prosecutors cited when arguing the threats were motivated by hate.
Guerrero was arrested in August 2024 by Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents after being detained at Boston’s Logan International Airport. He faces additional state charges: prosecutors in Brevard County have brought eight felony counts against him in state court.
Prosecutors stress deterrence and protection of public officials
U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe emphasized the broader implications of the case. "Threats of intimidation or harm against public officials … will not be tolerated," Kehoe said in a statement released with the sentencing announcement.
At sentencing, Judge Moe noted the role hate played in the threats and the need to deter similar conduct aimed at elected officials and people in protected classes.
Related charges and timeline
A federal indictment returned in October 2025 charged Guerrero with two counts of interstate communication of a threat. The guilty plea in March 2026 resolved the federal case that led to the federal prison term imposed this week.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Edwin Guerrero, 26 |
| Federal sentence | 9 years, 11 months |
| Fine | $15,000 |
| Federal plea | Pleaded guilty March 23 to making interstate threats |
| State charges | Eight felony counts pending in Brevard County, Fla. |
Local angle and community concerns
The arrest at Logan and the presence of a Massachusetts resident among those prosecuted in a high-profile threats case highlight how online threats can cross state and international lines. Federal prosecutors often point to interstate communications and cross-border routing to establish jurisdiction — elements that surfaced in this case when investigators traced posts to an IP address linked to Spain.
Local civil liberties and public safety experts note that prosecutions like this reflect growing federal attention to violent or hate-motivated online threats against public officials, their families and others. The sentence here underscores a court’s willingness to impose substantial penalties when prosecutors establish both a threat and an underlying motive tied to protected characteristics, officials said.
- Guerrero’s posts were made on X in August 2024 and included graphic imagery tied to threats.
- He was detained at Boston’s Logan Airport in August 2024 and later charged at the state and federal levels.
- Federal prosecutors described the threats as motivated by antisemitism and sought a sentence that would deter similar conduct.
The sentencing closes the federal portion of the case, but Guerrero still faces the pending state indictment in Florida. Authorities in both jurisdictions have signaled that threats directed at public officials and their families will prompt coordinated investigative and prosecutorial responses.
— Andre Okonkwo, State Correspondent
