UPDATE: Rioter Who Threatened ICE Officer and His Family Now Faces Decade in Federal Prison

Last Wednesday, an anti-ICE rioter outside the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey was caught on video threatening to kill a federal agent and his family.

That video went viral and ultimately led to the arrest of the agitator, whose identity has been released as 27-year-old Nicholas Matthew Scelfo from Brooklyn, NY.

If you missed it, here’s our previous report on that:

UPDATE: FBI Arrests Rioter Who Made Death Threats Against ICE Agent & His Family

Now, Nicholas Scelfo has officially been charged by the DOJ for threatening to assault and murder an ICE officer.

He is facing up to 10 years behind bars, if convicted.

Nick Sortor provided us with this update:

🚨 JUST IN: The DOJ has officially CHARGED Nicholas Matthew Scelfo with threatening to MURDER an ICE agent and his family here in Newark

He now faces up to 10 YEARS in prison.

Per DOJ, Scelfo ADMITTED he’s the one on video, and saw it circulating in the media in the hours… pic.twitter.com/t6FZ8ycnLi

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 1, 2026

JUST IN: The DOJ has officially CHARGED Nicholas Matthew Scelfo with threatening to MURDER an ICE agent and his family here in Newark

He now faces up to 10 YEARS in prison.

Per DOJ, Scelfo ADMITTED he’s the one on video, and saw it circulating in the media in the hours leading up to his arrest.

Scelfo will appear today in front of a federal magistrate judge today in Newark.

This is a SERIOUS federal felony. 18 U.S. Code § 115: “Influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a Federal official by threatening or injuring a family member.”

Not looking good for this guy!

ADVERTISEMENT

Scelfo has admitted to the crime and had his first court appearance today.

FBI Director Kash Patel noted that Scelfo was identified using facial-recognition technology from the viral video.

Here's more information from a DOJ press release announcing the charges:

A Brooklyn man was charged with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officer outside an ICE detention facility, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Nicholas Matthew Scelfo, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested for influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat. Scelfo appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court on June 1, 2026, and was released on a $100,000 bond. He was also prohibited from returning to Delaney Hall.

“As alleged, the defendant threatened a federal law enforcement officer and members of that officer’s family with violence and death. Threats against federal officers and their families are serious crimes and will not be tolerated. Federal officers serve our communities every day, often in difficult circumstances, and this Office is committed to holding accountable those who, as alleged here, threaten violence against them or their loved ones.”

- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

“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.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“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,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “In particular, I want to thank Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche who moved extremely quickly to locate, pursue, and bring the subject to justice — as well as our FBI Newark and New York teams who executed brilliantly. 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.”

“This violent rioter who allegedly threatened to murder an ICE law enforcement officer and his family is being brought to justice,” said Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “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. This violence against law enforcement must end. President Trump and I will always stand with our law enforcement officers.”

“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,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy for the Newark Field Office. “We will follow the law and hold anyone who chooses to break the law accountable.”

“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,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark. “Homeland Security Investigations remains resolute in ensuring that individuals who threaten or attack law enforcement face the full force of the law. We are grateful to our partners at the FBI for their outstanding work in helping us identify and locate this defendant so he can face justice.”

ADVERTISEMENT

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On or about May 27, 2026, during a demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, Scelfo threatened to assault and murder an ICE officer. According to a video posted to social media and other evidence obtained by law enforcement, Scelfo screamed toward the ICE officer: “I’ll kill your whole fucking family! Your whole fucking family is dead! Your children, your wife, all dead! I have your face, motherfucker! You’re dead! Dead!”

The threat charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of up to $250,000.

Lock him up!

Many patriots on X are calling for Scelfo to be made an example of:

Examples need to be made of these people.

— American Citizen (@paisnano) June 1, 2026

Threatening to murder a federal agent and that agent's family is not protest. It is a serious crime, and serious crimes should have serious consequences. 🇺🇸

— MinedWealth (@WealthMined) June 1, 2026

Outstanding. Now let's all hope he doesn't get a lefty judge who gives him only a slap on the wrist.

— Fred Ernsting (@FredErnsting) June 1, 2026

What are your thoughts?