Isaac Sissel, Threats in Interstate Commerce, Michigan 2024

DETROIT – Isaac Sissel, 26, a drifter with a penchant for trouble, learned today that running from the law only delays the inevitable. Sissel was sentenced to thirty months in federal prison for making credible threats to kill conservative Christians, a chilling declaration delivered amidst a volatile political climate. The sentencing, announced by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., brings a temporary end to Sissel’s pattern of transient criminality.

The feds say Sissel’s online activity first raised red flags in September 2024. He created Reddit accounts with names like “ShootUpTrumpRally” and “PlanningToKillTrump,” hinting at a dangerous mindset. But it was a direct, anonymous tip to the FBI on November 2, 2024, that solidified the threat. Sissel claimed he would “carry out an attack against conservative christan filth in the event trump wins the election,” and boasted of possessing a “stolen ar15.” This threat landed just two days before a President Trump rally in Michigan and three days before the 2024 Presidential election – a particularly sensitive time, given a recent shooting at another Trump rally just four months prior.

While investigators determined Sissel, a convicted felon, had no actual possession of a weapon, the threat was deemed serious enough to warrant prosecution. The government successfully argued for a Hate Crimes Motivation enhancement, proving that Sissel specifically targeted victims based on their religious beliefs. He pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce, acknowledging the gravity of his actions. The lack of a weapon didn’t lessen the fear he intentionally stoked.

“We live in evil times,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated bluntly. “Even in America, Christians are routinely targeted for death by violent extremists like this man. The First Amendment is a safeguard of religious liberty and free speech—and so it does not protect true threats that undermine religious liberty.” It’s a stark reminder that free speech ends where credible threats begin, and the Department of Justice is prepared to act.

Reuben C. Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Division, emphasized the collaborative effort that brought Sissel to justice. “The sentencing of Issac Sissel reflects the FBI’s zero tolerance for individuals who threaten Americans,” he said. Coleman highlighted the tireless work of the FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, alongside the FBI Ann Arbor Resident Agency, and crucial support from the United States Secret Service, University of Michigan Police Department, and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hank Moon and Micah Wallace spearheaded the prosecution. This case serves as a warning: online threats have real-world consequences, and federal agencies are actively monitoring and responding to those who attempt to incite violence. Sissel’s 30-month sentence is a clear message that threatening others, especially based on their beliefs, will not be tolerated. He’ll have plenty of time to reflect on his choices, and perhaps, find a less destructive way to spend his days.

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