Man Allegedly Forges Threatening Letters to Deport Another Individual
A Wisconsin resident is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly forging a letter that threatened the life of former President Donald Trump, aiming to have another man deported unjustly.
Details of the Incident and Charges
According to a criminal complaint filed on Monday, Demetric D. Scott is accused of sending a threatening letter to state and federal authorities under the name and return address of Ramón Morales Reyes. Scott faces charges that include felony witness intimidation, identity theft, and two counts of bail jumping.
Morales Reyes was taken into custody by immigration agents on May 21 after dropping his child off at school in Milwaukee. At the time, officials claimed he had authored a letter threatening to kill Trump and stated his intent to "self-deport" to Mexico.
Investigation Reveals Fabrication
Investigations conducted by authorities began to unravel the accusations against Morales Reyes. The individual, who does not speak English fluently, provided handwriting samples that differed from those on the threatening letters. These findings indicated that he was not responsible for the letters.
Morales Reyes is officially considered a victim in this lawsuit involving Scott, who is also incarcerated awaiting trial on separate charges of armed robbery and aggravated battery, with his trial set for July.
Additional Evidence Against Scott
Law enforcement officials monitored several phone calls Scott made while in jail, during which he discussed the letters and planned to have someone apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to facilitate the dismissal of his trial. He reportedly admitted to authoring the threatening letters during police interviews.
Background on Ramón Morales Reyes
Morales Reyes resides in Milwaukee with his wife and three children, working as a dishwasher. He had recently applied for a U visa, which is designed to protect undocumented immigrants who are victims of serious crimes.
His immigration attorney emphasized the ongoing focus on securing his release from custody and pursuing alternative legal measures to prevent his deportation, especially since U visa applications are subject to lengthy backlogs.
Legal Outlook and Next Steps
Morales Reyes’ defense counsel indicated plans to explore options in immigration court to keep him with his family, highlighting the fact that three of his children are U.S. citizens. Clearing his name regarding the threatening letter accusation is a significant step toward that goal.
