21-year-old Columbus man pleads guilty to social posts threatening to kill federal immigration agents
ICE Conducts a Fugitive Operation Targeting Criminal Aliens Across Florida.
A 21-year-old Columbus man has pleaded guilty to federal charges that he posted on social media threatening to kill federal immigration agents.
Justin Mesael Novoa pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole to charges of threatening to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer and making threatening interstate communications, prosecutors said.
Federal officials did not provide a date for Novoa’s sentencing. Threatening to kill a federal officer includes a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while making threatening interstate communications carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
In December 2025, Homeland Security Investigations learned about X posts threatening ICE employees.
Investigators alleged that in June 2025, Novoa posted: “they should blast every ice agent they find.” A few months later, in November, Novoa, who apparently used the screen names “Lord of Frenzied Flame” and “Father2High,” allegedly posted “can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r******d maga maggots.”
The following month, in December, federal authorities executed a search warrant at Novoa’s residence.
“Alright, you got me,” Novoa said after HSI agents explained they were responding to the threats, WSYX-TV reported. “That was me.”
He reportedly also said, “Damn, so Elon [Musk] does give you access to that.”
During the raid, agents confiscated ammunition and several firearms, including two rifles, two shotguns and a handgun. They said that Novoa also had a pair of “military-style helmets and a body armor vest.”
Novoa was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in January, and a federal grand jury indicted him in February.
ICE’s presence in Columbus in December as part of Operation Buckeye prompted dozens of protesters to gather outside of a Polaris hotel to protest. As part of Operation Buckeye, authorities said they arrested more than 280 illegal aliens from across Ohio.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther was among those who protested the immigration crackdown. His opposition prompted DHS to clap back on X.
“Why are you against ICE enforcing federal immigration laws in your city and making Columbus SAFE for all Ohioans?” ICE wrote on the social media platform.
