Palm Harbor Man Arrested for Threatening to Injure and Kill Four Individuals, Including Two Sitting United States Congressmembers

Tampa, Florida - Robert Odell Potts (58, Palm Harbor) has been charged by indictment with interstate communication of threats to injure and kill. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, on October 28, 2026, Potts threatened to assassinate four individuals, including two sitting members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The indictment alleges that Potts posted a true threat on social media including the statement, "Today I will be assasanating [sic] [U.S. CITIZEN 1], [U.S. CONGRESSMEMBER 1], [U.S. CONGRESSMEMBER 2], and [U.S. CITIZEN 2] today."

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police - Threat Assessment Section, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.