PHOENIX — An Arizona man has been arrested on three counts of threats against a federal official and three counts of interstate threats after officials said he used social media platforms to express a desire to incite violence against elected officials, judges and law enforcement officers.
Michael Lee Tomasi, 37, of Rio Verde, Arizona, was arrested Friday. He is specifically charged with threatening to kill FBI agents and other FBI employees "just for doing their jobs," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said.
"I am deeply proud of the work the FBI does every day; its personnel should not have to deal with threats against themselves as they work to protect the American people," Garland said. "The Justice Department will not stand for such heinous behavior and will prosecute threats against its employees to the fullest extent of the law.”
The threats occurred from May 2021 through November 2023, while Tomasi was living in Colorado and Arizona. This indictment is specifically for threats made against agents in Arizona, federal officials said.
Each count alleging threats against a federal official carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. For each count of interstate threats, Tomasi could face five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI is handling the investigation.
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