'Report Me For Terrorism:' CA Man's Synagogue Bomb Threats Lands Him In Federal Court

LOS ANGELES, CA — A 36-year-old man on Tuesday denied federal allegations that he threatened to "blow up every synagogue within a 20-mile radius" on social media last summer, according to U.S. Attorney's Office.

Elijah Alexander King, 36, of San Luis Obispo, pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles federal court to one count of threats and false information regarding fire and explosives, one count of threats by interstate communication, and one count of false information and hoaxes, according to prosecutors.

King is accused of posting the threats to an X account with the name "Billy Badass" on Aug. 28, which is linked to his email address and phone number, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

On that date, he posted "I'm going to blow up every synagogue within a 20-mile radius," along with a follow-up message: "This is a real threat send police and report me for terrorism."

Shortly after his posts, law enforcement analysis of his phone showed he searched for "synagogue" and "synagogue near me" in a search engine a total of five times, prosecutors claim.

The San Luis Obispo police department tracked King down outside a supermarket after he made the posts and he was committed to a psychiatric facility for three days, FBI Special Agent Briahna Faye Winter wrote in court documents.

"King's social worker at this facility described King as calm, lucid, not medicating, and further stated that King did not meet the requirements for any medication. This social worker also relayed that King openly shared his excitement regarding the attention that he was receiving from law enforcement for his 'X' threat," Winter wrote.

After he was released from the hospital, prosecutors claim King left voicemails to a San Luis Obispo detective, whose last name is Marquez.

Among the voicemails was a message in which he stated "You guys are all Mexican, and now my phone is stolen. Can you see kind of where I'm going from here?"

After the detective emailed King about his property that was seized, prosecutors claim King responded with the following:

"You are evil in my opinion and the fact that our country is relying on you for justice is laughable. You're a DEI joke put in power by jews, not Americans. You're an incompetent enemy riding the coattails of White people who are your superiors in EVERY way ... If you read the constitution you would know only White people can be American."

King was ordered released on bond pending trial, which was tentatively set for Jan. 13.

If convicted as charged, King could face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors.