Brooklyn man threatens company with second Las Vegas shooting

October 11, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Victor Casillas was arraigned in Brooklyn’s federal Court for making extortionate threats against a company, referencing the Las Vegas mass shooting. Photos courtesy of the United States Attorney’s office

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A Brooklyn federal judge ordered a man be temporarily jailed without bail Wednesday after he threatened a marketing company with a “LAS VEGAS REPEAT” when the group accused him of fraudulent activity.

After the Colorado-based company found Victor Casillas was making multiple accounts to reap “referral bonuses” and blocked his accounts, the 34-year-old allegedly sent the group a barrage of threats, prosecutors said.

“GET READY FOR A LAS VEGAS REPEAT (Final Warning),” Casillas allegedly wrote to the company three days after the mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded.

Days before the shooting, Casillas allegedly sent pictures of submachine guns and said he was in Colorado with a sniper ready to assassinate seven employees.

“PLEASE TELL LOVED ONES TO START PICKING OUT A NICE BEAUTIFUL CASKET AND PLAN A DECENT FUNERAL,” the complaint shows him writing along with the names and photos of the employees.

The final threats came after Stephen Paddock fired a rain of bullets onto a Las Vegas country music festival, marking the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Prosecutors did not find evidence of Casillas owning any guns.

Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo refused to release Casillas on bail Wednesday but the defendant was given a chance to argue for bail again Thursday afternoon.

Kuo said Casillas should be without electronic devices, to deter him from any contact with his victims or others.

Federal Defender Michael Brown argued internet restrictions were sufficient, but prosecutors said the “relentless” threats and stockpile of electronic devices found in Casillas’ Midtown Manhattan apartment were reason he should be jailed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Haggans painted the picture of someone at the company reading the emails with anticipation of an attack.

“Someone had to read them and figure out is someone going to show up here with a machine gun today? Tomorrow? Next week?” he said.

The FBI arrested Casillas Tuesday night at his apartment after the company handed over information about the case.

Brown said Casillas can’t return to his apartment because of issues with his landlord, but he would be bunking with a friend in Hartford, Connecticut if released.

Casillas has multiple prior arrests, including gun possession, assault and larceny, according to court documents.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The unnamed company runs a mobile application that connects users with sales from third-party companies.

Users can earn money from the company by referring others to the service.

Casillas allegedly opened about 14 accounts using various emails in 2016 and 2017 that the company found was a fraudulent way to earn referral bonuses.

A shining gold Rolex watch adorned the banner of Casillas’ Twitter profile, which states that he is a hip-hop artist.

The Myspace page for his music appropriately displays, “Vic-One is a [sic] Upcoming HipHop [sic] Artist Soon to Sign a Major Record Deal…”