In a shocking case that underscores the rising threat of violence against public officials, Michael Lee Tomasi, a 37-year-old resident of Rio Verde, Arizona, has pleaded guilty to making online threats against federal officials, including FBI agents. The plea was entered on August 14, 2024, following a series of disturbing incidents that spanned more than two years, during which Tomasi used social media to incite violence against a wide range of individuals and groups.
From May 2021 through November 2023, while residing in Colorado and Arizona, Tomasi unleashed a barrage of threats on social media, targeting a city district attorney, a state court judge, a member of Congress, and various federal law enforcement officers. His rhetoric was not just inflammatory but explicitly violent, reflecting a deep-seated intent to intimidate and harm those in positions of public trust.
One of the most chilling examples of Tomasi’s threats occurred on August 26, 2023, when he posted a message encouraging violence against FBI agents. In the post, Tomasi brazenly wrote: “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.” This message, among others, was cited in his guilty plea as evidence of his intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the FBI’s official duties.
The gravity of Tomasi’s actions was highlighted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, who stated, “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. The Justice Department will hold to account anyone who targets public servants with illegal threats of violence.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the dedication and bravery of the FBI’s workforce. “Threatening law enforcement officers and elected officials strikes at the heart of our communities and our democracy,” Wray said. “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.”
U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona also condemned Tomasi’s actions, revealing the alarming discovery made during his arrest. “This disgruntled defendant threatened officials from all three branches of government,” Restaino said. “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 is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
