ICE Agent Targeted: Duo Charged with Online Threats

ATLANTA, GA – A federal grand jury has slapped charges on two men accused of turning to social media to threaten an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer and his wife, escalating a disturbing trend of online harassment against law enforcement. The charges, announced today, detail a chilling pattern of targeted intimidation designed to instill fear and potentially incite violence.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg didn’t mince words: “Federal agents deserve to perform their duties free of harassment from keyboard warriors and other agitators,” he stated. “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 the growing challenge of protecting public servants from digital attacks.

According to court documents, Frank Andrew Waszut, 41, of Knoxville, Tennessee, allegedly posted a video on Instagram identifying an ICE deportation officer working in the Northern District of Georgia, displaying photographs of the agent. Waszut then reportedly called for vigilante action, stating, “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 claim “cell block one treatment” is a direct reference to physical assault within a detention facility.

The threats didn’t stop there. Anthony Patrick Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, allegedly targeted the officer’s wife with an even more direct and menacing post. Under a picture of the wife on Instagram, Noto reportedly wrote: “Anybody wanna test the sites [sic] on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” Investigators have confirmed “A-R” refers to a semiautomatic rifle, painting a grim picture of Noto’s intent. Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 23, 2025.

Noto is already in federal custody and has been arraigned on the federal indictment. Waszut, however, presents a more complex situation. He is currently held by state law enforcement in Texas, facing separate charges for allegedly making terroristic threats against Republican lawmakers. Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, emphasized the severity of the situation: “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. These charges serve as a clear reminder that threats of this nature will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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 of proving 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 handling the prosecution. For further information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. More information can also be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.