Arizona man charged with threatening to kill FBI agents, made violent threats against feds, politicians
Making violent threats to incite violence across social media is never a good idea. And using a public platform to kill FBI agents is simply asking for trouble, as 37-year-old Michael Lee Tomasi, 37, of Rio Verde, Arizona, discovered – and who has since pleaded guilty on August 13 to making threats against federal officials.
From May 2021 through November 2023, while living in Colorado and Arizona, Tomasi went on social media to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of individuals and groups, including a city district attorney, a state court judge, a member of Congress and other federal officials and law enforcement officers.
Tomasi pleaded guilty to posting a threat on August 26, 2023, to kill FBI agents in order to impede, intimidate, or interfere with FBI agents’ performance of their official duties. Specifically, Tomasi admitted that, on that day, he posted: “Shoot the FBI first and ask questions later. . . . Any FBI [] have a problem with that[,] come to my house and see what happens. Shoot before they even pull their guns out of their trunk and you shoot to kill.”
“Threats of violence against elected officials, judges, and FBI agents pose immense danger to the physical safety of individual victims and undermine our very system of government,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will hold to account anyone who targets public servants with illegal threats of violence.”
“Threatening law enforcement officers and elected officials strikes at the heart of our communities and our democracy,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The men and women of the FBI work tirelessly every day to defend our homeland and protect the American people. I am proud of their selfless spirit — putting themselves in harm’s way to keep others safe — and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens them.”
“This disgruntled defendant threatened officials from all three branches of government,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “Moreover, he was prepared to carry out his threats: when arrested he had a loaded handgun in his vehicle, as well as other firearms and body armor in his home. The prosecution of threats offenses makes Americans safer.”
Tomasi pleaded guilty to making threats against federal officials. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case.
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(Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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