Demetric Scott, a 52-year-old Wisconsin man, was convicted last week in Milwaukee County of felony identity theft and witness intimidation after admitting he forged threatening letters to frame Ramon Morales Reyes—a Mexican dishwasher and father of three—for death threats against President Trump. Scott’s goal? Get Morales deported by ICE before Reyes could testify against him in a bike theft and stabbing case from earlier that year.
How the Scheme Unfolded
Scott posed as Reyes in handwritten letters mailed (with unwitting help from his mother) to ICE offices, ranting about deportations and vowing to “shoot your precious president” or “blow up the White House like 911.” This came right after Scott allegedly kicked Reyes off his bike, stabbed him with a box cutter, and stole it. While jailed awaiting trial, Scott plotted via phone calls: “They just need to pick his a— up… if he gets picked up by ICE, there won’t be a jury trial.”
Federal officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, fell for it initially. On May 28, 2025—the same day a judge approved a search warrant for Scott’s cell—Noem posted about the threats on social media, tying them to prior assassination attempts on Trump, and DHS plastered Reyes’ face and name on their site, announcing his arrest for the letters despite knowing he wasn’t the author (per law enforcement sources).
Aftermath and Status
ICE detained Reyes in May 2025 at Dodge County Jail for removal proceedings, as he’d entered the U.S. from Mexico in the 1980s without papers. He’s now out on bond, seeking a U-visa for crime victims, and his attorney describes him as “traumatized,” just wanting to work and reunite with family.
Scott faces up to 26 years at sentencing on February 27. Prosecutors highlighted his admissions in court: “I wrote the letters… I tried to get him deported.” This case underscores risks in high-stakes immigration enforcement amid political tensions.
Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, CNN, Associated Press court records (events through early 2026).
