A Columbus man is being held at the Franklin County Jail on a federal charge after prosecutors say he emailed graphic threats to kill U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, Fine’s family, and President Donald Trump.
Alex Justin Miller, 26, of Columbus, was arrested Aug. 19, 2026. Franklin County Sheriff’s records list him as a federal holder at the Jackson Pike jail, with bond not set. The booking lists a federal felony and a case marked “HOLDER.”
Charge
• Interstate transmission of a threat to injure, 18 U.S.C. § 875(c)
• Filed by criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• Maximum penalty if convicted: up to five years in federal prison
Miller is presumed innocent. A criminal complaint is an accusation, not a finding of guilt.
What prosecutors allege Federal court records say an email was sent at 9:02 a.m. EDT on Aug. 18, 2026, the day of Florida’s primary election, to Fine’s email. The subject line, according to the complaint, was “Can’t wait to snipe your head off your shoulders!! :)” The message allegedly threatened to burn Fine’s home, murder Fine and his family while they slept, and behead Fine. It also called for the death of President Trump and used antisemitic slurs, including calling Fine and his family Nazis.
Fine, a Republican from Florida’s 6th Congressional District, identified himself as the recipient and said the sender was arrested within about 36 hours. He said this was the fourth person arrested over death threats against him in 10 years.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that at an Aug. 24 detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Columbus, prosecutors also pointed to Facebook reviews they say were left on pages for other current and former officials. Miller remains at the Franklin County Jail while the federal case proceeds. Extradition documents were filed in Columbus because he was arrested in Ohio on the Florida federal charge.
Who investigated
• FBI
• Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
• U.S. Capitol Police
• U.S. Secret Service
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.
Booking snapshot (Franklin County Sheriff)
• Name: Miller, Alex Justin
• Inmate number: 0446081
• Booking number: 20260819053
• Date of birth: Nov. 6, 1999
• Arrest date: Aug. 19, 2026
• Location: Jackson Pike
• Security level: FED
• Offense listed: Federal felony / holder
• Bond: not set
This account is based on the Franklin County inmate record, the federal criminal complaint, the U.S. Attorney’s announcement as reported by multiple outlets, and local coverage from The Columbus Dispatch. Miller has not been convicted.
