⏱ 2 min read
A 73-year-old Cape Coral man has been sentenced to federal prison for threatening to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Joseph Rocco Giancola made the threats online, posting messages on the social media platform BlueSky, including "Just shoot ice to kill" and "Shoot the ICE Nazis down like the rabid dogs they are". The threats were made between May and July 2025, and ICE identified them on August 6, 2025. Giancola was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, Giancola posted numerous threats on BlueSky, using the handle @caindelonbsky.social. The threats were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Cape Coral Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office. HSI executed a search warrant at Giancola’s residence on October 30, 2025, and found him in his bedroom with an unlocked computer displaying the BlueSky account.
Giancola pleaded guilty to making interstate communications of threats to injure on March 26, 2026. At the sentencing hearing, the court held him accountable for making more than two true threats against official victims on account of their employment status. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Redavid.
The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime, which involved threatening the lives of law enforcement officers. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting their officers and holding individuals accountable for making threats against them.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime