A Texas man, Taylor Bullard, 34, was arrested for allegedly sending threatening emails to executives at Capital One, expressing his anger over what he deemed wrongful collection attempts on a debt of $543, which he claimed he had already settled.
According to federal documents, Bullard expressed his grievances after receiving correspondence from the bank's collection agency on December 12, 2022. Testifying to his frustrations, he declared, "Call me before I show up to one of their locations with a machete and gasoline." This alarming statement was included as part of the FBI's affidavit concerning the threats made against the financial institution.
Fueled by anger over what he believed was harassment concerning the debt, he elaborated, "You have ruined my ability to buy a home. I’m 34 with a $100k+ job, and it’s time I target the people and companies who have ruined my ability to live the life I deserve. I will be coming after your executive team personally. Please call me before I do things I can’t take back and will make your executive team question their life choices." This email alleged he was responding to the collection agency’s plea for payment.
Investigators traced Bullard’s threatening messages back to his home using his IP address. This was not Bullard's first encounter with authorities due to threatening behavior; he reportedly has previous incidents of intimidating communication dating back at least to 2017. That year, he allegedly threatened to release anthrax at another unnamed company's event, asserting he wanted attention and wished to see the companies he felt had wronged him “sweat.” He reiterated during interviews with the FBI, "I did not intend to hurt myself or others." His history extended to 2022 as well, when Bullard left threatening voicemails at other institutions, expressing intentions of mass violence, claiming he would arrive armed with an AK-47.
Bullard’s discontent reached alarming heights reflected not only through his direct communications but also by expressing his feelings through social media. Following issues with another business, Carvana, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) intense comments addressed to the company, threatening to drive the faulty vehicle through their doors. His emotional outburst reiterated his extreme displeasure with corporations he believed were operating unethically.
The shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier in December 2022 heightened concern within corporate America, where executives now are increasingly feeling the pressure of public sentiment and scrutiny. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, reportedly acted on feelings of anger against corporate greed. This incident has heightened the atmosphere of fear around corporate establishments, creating concerns about the mental state of customers feeling wronged by these organizations.
Bullard’s case indicates how the dissatisfaction with financial institutions is breaking out not just at personal levels of distress but provoking threats of violence. He now faces one count of sending threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of up to five years if convicted. Bullard was released on a $25,000 bond and will stand trial in Virginia, the headquarters of Capital One.
The echoes of his threats come amid broader discussions about the treatment of consumers by corporations, where debts can create overwhelming pressures leading to dire statements and intentions. Although authorities hesitated to connect Bullard’s threats directly to those of Thompson’s alleged murderer, Bullard clearly finds himself at the forefront of rising tensions between consumers and corporations.
While he has agreed to mental health treatment as part of pretrial conditions, restrictions placed on his freedoms, such as no possession of firearms and limited access to personal electronics, paint the picture of the serious nature of his allegations.
