An Ohio man who allegedly threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had a cache of firearms and body armor in his home at the time of his arrest, federal authorities said.
Justin Mesael Novoa, a 21-year-old of Columbus, was charged with “making threatening interstate communications, including threats to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer,” the Department of Justice announced on Thursday.
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio, cites charging documents that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information in December 2025 regarding threats to ICE posted to X and that an investigation revealed the suspect allegedly posted “they should blast every ice agent they find” in June 2025.
NEW: DOJ has arrested & charged an Ohio man w/ threatening on social media to kill ICE agents. Feds say 21-year-old Justin Mesael Novoa posted “can’t wait to shoot these pussy ICE agents & retarded MAGA maggots.”
Feds found several guns, ammo, body armor, & Palestinian flag in… pic.twitter.com/Q3RheHWeK2— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 23, 2026
Then, in November 2025, he allegedly posted “can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r******d maga maggots.”
According to the press release, “Federal agents executed a search warrant at Novoa’s residence in December 2025 and seized multiple firearms, including two rifles, two shotguns and one handgun, as well as ammunition. Novoa also possessed two helmets and body armor.”
🚨 Hey Ohio!
Justin Novoa posted: “can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r******d maga maggots.”
Feds executed a search warrant and found guns, ammo, and body armor.
He is facing up 10 YEARS in prison for threatening law enforcement.
Dont mess with the badge. pic.twitter.com/IShIByZlPj
— Mehek Cooke🇺🇸 (@MehekCooke) January 23, 2026
The suspect’s social media activity also included anti-Semitic sentiment.
“HSI obtained the account details from X Corp., including an email in Novoa’s name and a phone number with a 614 area code. A later search warrant executed on the account yielded multiple antisemitic posts referencing Hitler and gas chambers. Most of the posts included in the court documents called Jewish people ‘subhuman’ or ‘filthy,’ with the author adding that they should all be exterminated,” Columbus ABC affiliate WSYX reported.
A Palestinian flag was also hanging on a wall in the suspect’s home near the firearms and body armor, pictures show.
A Columbus man appeared before a federal judge on Thursday for alleged threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. https://t.co/eGbOjRhtwn
— WSYX ABC 6 (@wsyx6) January 23, 2026
Agents executed a search warrant at Novoa’s home on December 20, 2025, and when HSI explained why they were there, the suspect reportedly said “Alright, you got me. That was me,” and “Damn, so Elon [Musk] does give you access to that,” according to ABC6.
“Threatening to kill a federal officer is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Making threatening interstate communications carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison,” the DOJ press release states.
It is a disturbing reminder of the dangerous climate for federal immigration enforcement professionals that has been fomented by Democrats and the media, who have put targets on their backs with their constant demonizing of ICE.
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