ICE Agent Targeted: Online Threats Lead to Federal Charges

ATLANTA, GA – The digital world spilled into real-world danger this week as a federal grand jury indicted two men for allegedly threatening an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer and his wife. The charges stem from disturbing social media posts that officials say crossed the line from online bravado into credible threats of violence.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg didn’t mince words, stating, “Federal agents deserve to perform their duties free of harassment from keyboard warriors and other agitators. Threatening law enforcement officers and their families is not only illegal—it’s disgusting. My office will ensure that anyone who threatens a federal agent in North Georgia, or who hides behind a computer screen to intimidate that agent’s immediate family, is found, arrested, prosecuted, and held accountable.” The case highlights a growing concern over the weaponization of social media against those working in law enforcement.

According to court documents, Frank Andrew Waszut, 41, of Knoxville, Tennessee, allegedly posted a video on Instagram identifying the ICE officer and displaying photographs of him. While identifying the officer, Waszut reportedly stated, “And he’s an ICE agent. This is him unmasked . . . . So, go ahead and make him famous. And if you see this [expletive] out in public give him the cell block one treatment. You know, catch him when he’s alone.” Prosecutors allege “cell block one treatment” is a coded reference to physical assault within a detention facility.

The threats didn’t stop there. Anthony Patrick Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, is accused of posting a chilling comment on a picture of the officer’s wife. Noto allegedly wrote, “Anybody wanna test the sites [sic] on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” Officials state that “A-R” refers to a semiautomatic rifle. The implications are clear: a direct call for violence against a family member.

Noto is currently in federal custody and has been arraigned on the federal indictment. Waszut, however, presents a more complex situation. He is currently in the custody of state law enforcement in Texas, facing separate charges for allegedly making terroristic threats against Republican lawmakers. Both men were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 23, 2025. Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Threats of violence against law enforcement officers and their families are not only reprehensible, but also a direct attack on the safety and integrity of our justice system.”

It’s crucial to remember that these are indictments, and both Waszut and Noto are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The government bears the responsibility to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Eric White leading the prosecution. For further information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. Information is also available at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

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