The Department of Justice has announced that people who deliberately spread the coronavirus may face federal terrorism charges for “purposeful exposure and infection.”

In a memo to law enforcement agency chiefs and US attorneys, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said that “because coronavirus appears to meet the statutory definition of a ‘biological agent’… such acts potentially could implicate the Nation’s terrorism-related statutes.”

Rosen wrote that “we have seen an unfortunate array of criminal activity related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Capitalizing on this crisis to reap illicit profits or otherwise preying on Americans is reprehensible and will not be tolerated.

The memo continues on to say that he is writing to inform them of schemes that have been reported, including plots to purposely infect Americans with the virus. He did not say if any successful attempts to do this have actually been reported.

TRENDING: FBI Agent Who Uncovered Weiner Laptop with Hillary's Emails says FBI Leadership Told Him to Erase All of His Findings

“Threats or attempts to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated,” Rosen asserted.

The Hill has reported that a 50-year-old New Jersey man named George Falcone was charged with making a terroristic threat for

According to a report by The Hill, New Jersey local George Falcone, 50, was charged on Tuesday with making a terroristic threat for coughing on a Wegmans grocery store employee after claiming to have the virus. He is now facing up to seven years in prison and a maximum fine of $26,000.