A Massachusetts man was arrested after offering $500 on Twitter to anyone who killed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
According to Masslive, 33-year-old Brandon Ziobrowski of Cambridge posted the tweet in July, writing, “I am broke but I will scrounge and literally give $500 to anyone who kills an ice agent. @me seriously who else can pledge get in on this let’s make this work”
The account, with just under 500 followers, was discovered by officials who, according to the indictment, were scanning “the Internet for any domestic and international terrorism threats.” It was suspended after requests from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
This wasn’t Ziobrowski’s first time encouraging violence. “He has repeatedly tweeted his desire to ‘slit’ Senator John McCain’s throat,” the indictment says.
“Guns should only be legal for shooting the police like the second amendment intended,” Ziobrowski says in another tweet.
“The agents and officers out there enforcing federal laws are doing their job, plain and simple,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said to reporters at a news conference. “There is a difference between public debate and putting others in fear of their lives.”
“Feeling strong on this subject is fine. Putting people’s lives in danger, not fine,” he added.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Harold Shaw claims that Ziobrowski tweeted support for “socialist” and “communist” ideologies and also expressed “extreme anti-U.S.” sentiments.
Ziobrowski was charged with interstate and foreign commerce to transmit a threat to injure a person; if found guilty, he will face up to five years in jail.