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SA man charged after claiming he paid someone to spread coronavirus at grocery stores
KSAT ^ | 4/8 | Fares Sabawi

Posted on 04/08/2020 5:40:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Threat was unfounded, investigators say

FBI agents arrested a San Antonio man after he posted on Facebook, claiming he paid someone to spread COVID-19 at grocery stores.

Christopher Charles Perez, 39, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of perpetrating a coronavirus-related hoax.

Perez posted the threat “because he was trying to deter people from visiting the stores, purportedly in order to prevent the spread of the virus,” according to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office in San Antonio.

The screenshot quickly caught the attention of the Southwest Texas Fusion Center, a team of law enforcement individuals who monitor online threats. The tip was then sent to the FBI for further investigation.

“To be clear, the alleged threat was false; no one spread coronavirus at grocery stores, according to investigators," the news release said.

Perez faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted.

COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: coronavirus; fbi; sanantonio

1 posted on 04/08/2020 5:40:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Facebook seems like some sort of electro-idiot-magnet.


2 posted on 04/08/2020 5:44:34 PM PDT by chris37 (Coronavirus wasn't born in a bowl of bat soup.)
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To: chris37

Just like the fake hate crime groups, we did it to ourselves to raise awareness and to start a dialogue. 1 year in prison for this dirtbag or a week of daily beatdowns at least. That would be justice.


3 posted on 04/08/2020 5:48:59 PM PDT by Ponyexpress9790
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To: nickcarraway

Good luck proving that case.


4 posted on 04/08/2020 5:57:21 PM PDT by Rio
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To: nickcarraway
perpetrating a coronavirus-related hoax

How cliche.

A hoax to promote a hoax.

Is this a double negative?

5 posted on 04/08/2020 6:09:33 PM PDT by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT!)
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To: Rio

FaceBook will have the logs and his computer or device will confirm it. He’s an idiot.


6 posted on 04/08/2020 6:15:11 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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