Texas man sentenced to prison over social media COVID-19 hoax

A Texas man was sentenced to prison after he falsely claimed on social media that he paid someone with the coronavirus to lick items at a grocery store.

The Justice Department released a statement Wednesday saying Christopher Charles Perez, from San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for two counts of false information and hoaxes related to biological weapons. 

“Those who would threaten to use COVID-19 as a weapon against others will be held accountable for their actions, even if the threat was a hoax,” FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs said.

“Perez’s actions were knowingly designed to spread fear and panic and today’s sentencing illustrates the seriousness of this crime. The FBI would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their help in this case.”

In April 2020, Perez posted on Facebook twice saying he paid someone with the virus to lick grocery store items in an attempt to get people out of the stores.

Investigators determined the post was fake, as Perez admitted to authorities during their investigation.

Perez was caught after the post was sent to the Southwest Texas Fusion Center, which forwarded it to the FBI.

Along with the prison time, Perez will pay a $1,000 fine. 

“Trying to scare people with the threat of spreading dangerous diseases is no joking matter,” U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff said.  “This office takes seriously threats to harm the community and will prosecute them to the full extent of the law.”