A New York man has been indicted after federal prosecutors say he used social media to threaten a Department of Homeland Security law enforcement officer and the officer’s family, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The defendant, Matthew White, 43, allegedly posted multiple statements on X in April that federal authorities describe as threats aimed at immigration personnel, including ICE agents. In one post cited in a federal complaint, prosecutors say White wrote: “Kill them all, ICE is the new age gestapo.” In another, he allegedly warned that ICE agents would be harmed if they did not show identification and a signed warrant.
A federal grand jury indicted White on Thursday on charges that include threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer and sending an interstate communication containing a threat to injure someone, according to a DOJ announcement.
Prosecutors say White specifically focused on a DHS officer whose photo he allegedly shared online while describing violent intentions toward the officer and the officer’s children. The complaint also references additional posts in which White allegedly spoke about attacking ICE agents more broadly.
Authorities say White, who is from Jamestown, was arrested in July after an investigation but was not indicted until Thursday.
In a separate statement, ICE officials said that on April 30, personnel in Buffalo became aware of an X account they believed was operated by White and was “publicly posting threats” toward federal immigration agents and DHS administrators. ICE said White later spoke with investigators and allowed them to extract data from his phone, which the agency says contained multiple threatening posts on X.
According to the federal complaint, White allegedly wrote that he would “die trying to fight for democracy and I will kill an ICE agent,” and said he was willing to engage in “civil war.” Prosecutors also allege he posted further warnings directed at DHS personnel, including claims that agents were “in danger” if they did not comply with his demands for identification and warrants.
Federal prosecutors said White’s X account was still active as of Sunday and identified the handle as @MatthewWhi17466. They also said he shared a GoFundMe described as being intended to “secure legal support,” which claims the posts were “misconstrued and manipulated” and argues that “no one should have to serve prison time for having a bad day and vocalizing intrusive thoughts.”
The DOJ said White was arraigned Thursday and released under conditions.
