SAN ANTONIO — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.

SAN ANTONIO – A Hondo man was sentenced in a federal court today to 27 months in prison for threatening a violent attack to overthrow the government, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jay Anthony Villarreal, 25, left his home in Hondo on June 28, 2025, with the intent to carry out an attack in Washington D.C., to overthrow the government. Villarreal was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault weapon, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, along with extra loaded magazines and multiple boxes of ammunition for each gun. He also possessed in his vehicle a police scanner, binoculars, and a copy of the Texas Penal Code. 

As part of his plan to overthrow the government, Villarreal used social media in an effort to solicit military veterans to join him. A friend of Villarreal’s in Maryland saw the social media post on the morning of June 29, 2025, viewed it as potential mass murder situation, and reported it to the FBI. Another of Villarreal’s acquaintances from Hondo was disturbed by the messages and wanted to avert a mass killing so he reported it to the Hondo police. Furthermore, multiple family members and friends sent messages to Villarreal while he was on his drive from Hondo to Washington D.C., prompting him to turn around in the Beaumont area and return home on June 29 at approximately 8:00 pm. Later that day, FBI agents searched Villarreal’s home, resulting in the discovery of two U.S. military smoke grenades—all in addition to the firearms and materials he had in his vehicle. 

Villarreal was arrested on July 2, 2025, and convicted by a federal jury on June 17, 2026. Today, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Villarreal to 27 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Villarreal was also ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition.

“Jay Villarreal set out on a mission loaded with weapons and ammunition to violently overthrow the United States government in our nation’s capital,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Fortunately, those closest to him took his public threats seriously and did the right thing by reporting him to law enforcement while simultaneously talking him down. My office and our federal law enforcement partners continue to urge community members to speak up and make that same call whenever necessary. We will answer that call in order to ensure Americans remain safe.”

“This ruling sends a clear message to those who attempt to undermine our democracy,” said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Daniel Faith. “These crimes will not be tolerated and those who perpetrate them will be brought to justice.”

The FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the San Antonio Police Department, Hondo Police Department, and UTSA Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Kirk Mangels prosecuted the case.

###