Department of Justice officials said Monday a 37-year-old Rio Verde man was arrested after being indicted on three counts of threats against a federal official and three counts of making interstate threats.

Michael Lee Tomasi, while living in Colorado and Arizona, used a social media platform from May 2021 through November 2023 “to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of individuals and groups, including elected officials, a judge and federal officials and law enforcement officers,” a DOJ release stated.

The charges against Tomasi relate to threats he made in Arizona to federal law enforcement agents and employees, according to the release.

“The threats of violence against public officials alleged in this indictment are abhorrent,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said.

“The defendant is specifically charged with threatening to kill FBI agents and other FBI employees just for doing their jobs. I am deeply proud of the work the FBI does every day; its personnel should not have to deal with threats against themselves as they work to protect the American people.

"The Justice Department will not stand for such heinous behavior and will prosecute threats against its employees to the fullest extent of the law.”

Each count alleging a threat against a federal official carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.

Counts alleging interstate threat carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.

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