ARIZONA, USA — An Arizona man has pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats against multiple federal officials on social media.
According to the United States Attorney's Office, on Aug. 13, Michael Lee Tomasi, 37, of Rio Verde, entered a guilty plea to the charges against him.
Tomasi posts expressed "a desire to incite violence," officials said. His targets included a city district attorney, a state court judge, a member of Congress and other federal officials and law enforcement officers.
Tomasi posted the threats on social media between May 2021 and November 2023, while he was living in Colorado and Arizona, officials said.
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One of the threats Tomasi posted was on Aug. 26, 2023. It reads as follows:
“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.”
U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino believes Tomasi was fully prepared to carry out the 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 threat offenses makes Americans safer,” said Restaino.
Tomasi will be sentenced on Oct. 23. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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