Federal authorities have arrested an Ohio man accused of issuing violent threats against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), referring to them with a derogatory term combining “Gestapo” and “pedophiles.”
Anthony Kelly of Cincinnati was taken into custody and charged with threatening to assault, kidnap, and kill a U.S. official, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Following his arrest, Homeland Security agents executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered a handgun and ammunition, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed in a statement posted Saturday on X (formerly Twitter).
Screenshots of Kelly’s alleged posts on the social media platform BlueSky show a series of aggressive and explicit messages, including one responding to a Fox News interview with former ICE Director Tom Homan, where he allegedly wrote:
“Thanks for giving We The People permission to shoot your #Gestapedos #TomHoman.”
In another post targeting Secretary Noem over her support for expanding detention centers for undocumented immigrants, Kelly allegedly wrote:
“The shotgun is being bought later on this week #KristiNoem … how many of your pathetic #Gestapedos want the smoke? You’re also invited b—.”
He also allegedly made further threats in response to a discussion about Homeland Security accessing Medicaid enrollee data:
“A message to the #Gestapedos: You come for me, you’re getting shot. And I’m not looking to disable your pedo asses. I’m shooting for the kill… You will be shot. You will be killed. End of story.”
DHS officials said the threats were taken seriously and swiftly investigated.
“These kinds of threats will not be tolerated,” McLaughlin stated. “You will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Kelly now faces federal charges and could face significant prison time if convicted.
