❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 21-year-old Ohio man was arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and others on social media.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Justin Mesael Novoa, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrest made in Ohio, on January 22, 2026; home raided in December 2025; threats posted earlier in November and June 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Alright, you got me. That was me,” Novoa reportedly admitted during the search of his home.
🎯IMPACT: Novoa faces over 10 years in prison if convicted; the case is set for a preliminary hearing on February 5.
Federal authorities arrested Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, of Ohio, on charges of threatening to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer and for threatening interstate communications. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest on Thursday, following an investigation into social media posts where Novoa allegedly threatened to shoot U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and people he referred to as “retarded maga maggots.”
According to the DOJ, the threats were posted on X (formerly Twitter) in June and November 2025. One post on November 9 stated, “can’t wait to shoot these p*ssy ice agents and retarded maga maggots.” Another post from June read, “they should blast every ice agent they find” and encouraged shooting agents in “masked, unmarked vehicles, no badge or id.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents served a summons to X on December 16 to obtain information about the anonymous account. The data provided by X linked the account to Novoa’s email and phone number. On December 20, agents executed a search of his home, where Novoa reportedly admitted to making the posts, saying, “Alright, you got me. That was me.”
During the search, authorities found two rifles, two shotguns, a handgun, ammunition, helmets, a plate carrier, and a Palestinian flag. The criminal complaint also detailed a history of anti-white and anti-Jewish posts from the account, including statements such as “hitler should have finished the job” and “id join hamas too. these filthy f***king subhuman rats deserve to be gassed and executed.”
Novoa is currently being held in jail by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. If convicted, Novoa could face more than 10 years in prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 5.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.