FBI: American living in Thailand threatened to shoot, dismember staff of NC senators

Authorities arrested a 51-year-old American citizen living in Thailand on a criminal complaint alleging that he threatened U.S. Sens Richard Burr, Thom Tillis and members of their staff in September 2021.

FBI Charlotte and FBI Atlanta special agents arrested Eric Welton on Thursday at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Welton is also accused of making threats in late 2022 against U.S. Marines and others working at the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

“Our elected representatives and the public servants who staff their offices must be free to do the people’s work without threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Violent threats against our democratically elected representatives do not just erode our civil discourse – they can undermine our democracy.

"We will hold accountable anyone who threatens violence targeting our bedrock institutions.”

Welton is charged with one count of threatening a federal official. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. Additional charges may follow, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“It is unacceptable to make violent threats against anyone. And when threats are directed at elected officials or members of the armed forces it can impact their abilities to serve our country effectively,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of FBI Charlotte.

According to the complaint, Welton made multiple harassing and intimidating calls to the offices of Republican elected officials and associated organizations in the U.S. due to many unsolicited political emails he claimed he was receiving.

In September 2021, Welton is accused of calling a staff member of a senator's Raleigh office and, among other things, threatened to show up and “put a bullet through each of [their] heads.” The complaint also states that Welton threatened to cut off the hands of the person that had decided to send him the emails.

The complaint further alleges that in October and November 2022, Welton began making threats against U.S. Marines and others working at the U.S. Consulate in Thailand. In one voicemail, Welton allegedly stated that he was “going to kill a bunch of Marines” due to anger over an immigration issue.

The FBI is investigating the case.