Bozeman man sentenced to 14 months for threatening elected state, federal officials

MISSOULA – A Bozeman man who threatened elected officials online and at the state capitol was sentenced today to 14 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Daniel Alan Verbanec, 47, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of threatening to murder or assault a United States official. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that Verbanec made aggressive, threatening online statements at elected representatives in Washington, D.C., and in Montana. A special agent with the United States Capitol Police contacted the FBI in January 2025 to report that a man in Bozeman had made a number of violent threats on the social media platform X directed at Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. The FBI contacted Verbanec, who told agents that the government was trying to kidnap and kill his family, including him. He also told agents that the FBI had contacted him before when he threatened then U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and that the Secret Service had contacted him after Verbanec had threatened Pres. Joe Biden. Months later, in October 2025, Verbanec traveled to Helena, arriving at the state capitol building and demanding to speak to Gov. Greg Gianforte. Verbanec told Gianforte’s staff that the governor was trying to kill him and his family and that the governor was responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk. He also told staff that he had made threats toward the governor before. Verbanec then told staff that he would not leave the building unless he spoke either to the governor, was arrested, or was forced out by police. At that point, Verbanec learned the governor was in Bozeman attending a summit and announced that he planned to travel to Bozeman to confront him. Officers then escorted Verbanec from the building and contacted the governor’s security detail.