In brief
A Wisconsin man, Demetric Scott, was found guilty of felony identity theft and witness intimidation after attempting to forge threats against former President Donald Trump. The case arose when Scott stabbed a man and subsequently wrote letters posing as the victim, Ramon Morales Reyes, to intimidate him. The letters contained threats against Trump, leading to law enforcement actions that affected Morales Reyes. Scott faces up to 26 years in prison, highlighting the intersection of crime, immigration, and the legal system.
MADISON, Wis. — A jury found a Wisconsin man guilty Thursday of forging threats against former President Donald Trump in an audacious attempt to intimidate a robbery victim, leading to his immediate custody following the verdict.
The Milwaukee County jury convicted 52-year-old Demetric Scott of felony identity theft and witness intimidation after a lengthy deliberation. Scott represented himself during his trial, which lasted three days, and was swiftly taken into custody after the jury read the verdict, leaving his current whereabouts unknown.
The incident involved the victim, 39-year-old Ramon Morales Reyes, a Mexican immigrant who was assaulted while riding his bike in Milwaukee in September 2023 by Scott, who attempted to steal the bike and stabbed Morales Reyes in the process. Shortly after his arrest, Scott wrote several threatening letters pretending to be Morales Reyes, directed at state and federal officials, claiming he would kill Trump at an upcoming rally.
Even before the trial, Morales Reyes, who has been in Mexico since the 1980s, faced deportation issues, becoming a target of immigration authorities in May after dropping his daughter off at school. The Department of Homeland Security took to social media to criticize Scott's actions, using the letters to bolster claims of immigration enforcement success.
Investigative efforts concluded that Morales Reyes could not have authored the letters due to his limited English skills and indicated inconsistencies in handwriting. Scott further implicated himself in jail phone conversations discussing plans to pressure immigration officials regarding the case.
Despite acquittals on other charges during the trial, Scott still faces serious consequences, with up to 26 years in state prison upon sentencing set for February 27. His legal troubles began earlier, with prior charges related to burglary and other offenses leading to multiple bail jumping counts, underscoring a troubled past.
Meanwhile, Morales Reyes, recently released on bond, remains in immigration custody while seeking a U-visa aimed at protecting crime victims and their families from deportation. His attorney emphasized that Morales Reyes's ordeal has been deeply traumatic, as he aims to stay in the U.S. and reunite with his family.
“He just wants to work and be with his family again,” said Cain Oulahan, Morales Reyes's attorney. The case raises critical questions about the intersection of crime, legal processes, and immigration enforcement in the United States.
