NEWARK, N.J. — A 27-year-old Brooklyn man was charged with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and the officer’s family during a demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, the Department of Justice announced.
Nicholas Matthew Scelfo was arrested on a charge of influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Newark federal court. “Federal law enforcement officers face danger with great courage, and they should be able to do their jobs without being threatened and fearing for their families’ lives,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We take such threats very seriously and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to court documents, Scelfo screamed at the ICE officer during a May 27 demonstration: “I’ll kill your whole f—— family! Your whole f—— family is dead! Your children, your wife, all dead! I have your face, motherf—–! You’re dead! Dead!” A video of the threats was posted to social media. During an interview with law enforcement after his arrest on or about May 29, Scelfo admitted to threatening to kill the officer and his family and acknowledged he later saw the video of himself in the media.
FBI Director Kash Patel said facial recognition technology led to Scelfo’s identification within a day. “This individual allegedly threatened violence toward one of our federal law enforcement officers and their family — and by using facial recognition technology, within 24 hours this FBI got him,” Patel said. “Let this be a message to any criminal actor who may try something similar: you touch a cop, and this FBI will put you down.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin cited an 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE officers. “This violent rioter who allegedly threatened to murder an ICE law enforcement officer and his family is being brought to justice,” Mullin said. “Our ICE officers are facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. Our officers have been assaulted, doxxed, their families threatened.”
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey said the prosecution reflects the seriousness of threats against federal officers. “As alleged, the defendant threatened a federal law enforcement officer and members of that officer’s family with violence and death,” Frazer said. “Threats against federal officers and their families are serious crimes and will not be tolerated.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy for the Newark Field Office added: “There is no place for the violent threats Scelfo allegedly screamed at law enforcement. Instead of protesting peacefully, there are groups and individuals targeting federal law enforcement agents who are carrying out their duties.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of Homeland Security Investigations Newark said: “Calling for the murder of a federal law enforcement officer and his family is not speech safeguarded by the Constitution; it is a grave criminal offense that will not be tolerated.” The case was investigated by the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force officers, HSI Newark, and the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camila A. Garces and Casey S. Smith for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case, with Scelfo’s next court appearance expected in the coming weeks.