Federal Detainee Who Threw a Chair at an Assistant United States Attorney and Threatened to Kill Him Arraigned on Federal Charges

Miami, Florida – A South Florida federal grand jury has indicted Tavorris Wilkins, 33, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with assaulting an Assistant United States Attorney and threatening to assault and kill an Assistant United States Attorney.

According to court documents, on November 7, 2019, a jury returned a verdict in a separate case finding Wilkins guilty of multiple federal charges. As the members of the jury were exiting the courtroom, Wilkins picked up a chair at his table and threw it at the Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting his case, barely missing him, alleges the indictment. Multiple Deputy United States Marshals tackled Wilkins and attempted to restrain him. It is alleged that while this occurred, Wilkins threatened to kill and assault the Assistant United States Attorney.  

The indictment is only an allegation. Wilkins is innocent until such time that he is proven guilty.  If convicted, Wilkins faces a maximum sentence of (20) years’ imprisonment.    

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida, United States Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the USM’s Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigatory efforts of the USMS and ATF in this matter.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay J. Alexander. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 19-cr-80032.

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