A Grand Rapids, Michigan, man who shares the same initials as the vice president was sentenced to federal prison for threatening to kill President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on social media.
James Donald Vance Jr., 67, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or injure the president and vice president, along with interstate threatening communications. Judge Paul Maloney sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release on Monday, November 17, 2025.
Despite the striking name similarity, James Donald Vance Jr. is not related to Vice President JD Vance. The defendant posted threatening messages on Bluesky under the alias “Diaperjdv” during March and April of this year.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Vance Jr. threatened four individuals total, including the president, vice president and one of Trump’s children. In one particularly alarming post, he proclaimed that he did not care whether he was shot by the Secret Service or would spend the rest of his life in prison for his actions.
A grand jury indicted Vance Jr. in June, and he entered guilty pleas to two felony charges. Each charge carried a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Prosecutors had initially suggested a sentence between 30 and 37 months. However, defense attorneys Sean Tilton and Helen Niewenhuis argued for a lighter sentence, noting that their client had no prior criminal history and suffered mental abuse as a child.
“The advent of the internet gives us all an opportunity to engage in the healthy exchange of ideas that are so important to a democracy,” U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said in a statement. “But some would rather use this tool to threaten and intimidate, conduct that causes fear and damages our democratic ideals.”
When Vance said he planned to kill our President and the Vice President simply because he disagreed with them, he crossed a line we all understand and so had to be punished, VerHey added.
In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors noted that Vance Jr. posted a photo of a firearm on Bluesky in February, arguing this demonstrated he was capable of acting on his threats and deserved a stiffer sentence. Defense attorneys countered that because the threats occurred online, there was no firearm used in the commission of a crime and stricter sentencing guidelines should not apply.
William Shink, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service’s Detroit Field Office, emphasized the seriousness with which such threats are treated. Individuals who threaten the president, vice president or any Secret Service protectee will be investigated and held accountable for their actions.
This case marks the second similar incident in recent weeks in the Western District of Michigan. Richard Spring was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October for making threats against President Trump on social media platforms.
The Kalamazoo federal court handled the sentencing in this unusual case. Federal authorities continue to take a firm stance on threats made against the nation’s leaders, particularly as social media platforms provide new avenues for such communications. The threats included Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. as additional targets, demonstrating the breadth of Vance Jr.’s online conduct.
While the internet provides platforms for free expression and democratic discourse, federal law enforcement agencies maintain zero tolerance for threats of violence against the president, vice president and their families.
Vance Jr.’s defense team presented evidence of his troubled background and lack of criminal history in their effort to secure a more lenient sentence. The court ultimately imposed a prison term below the prosecution’s recommendation but reflecting the serious nature of the threats.
Following his release from federal prison, Vance Jr. will remain under supervised release for an additional three years, during which his online activities and behavior will be monitored by federal authorities.