A Brooklyn man, Nicholas Matthew Scelfo, 27, has been charged with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officer and his family outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced the charges, stating Scelfo was arrested for influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat.
According to court documents, on or about May 27, 2026, during a demonstration, Scelfo allegedly screamed death threats at an ICE officer, which were captured on social media video. The threats included, “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!”
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “Threats against federal officers and their families are serious crimes and will not be tolerated.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche added, “We take such threats very seriously and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.” FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the swift action, stating, “by using facial recognition technology, within 24 hours this FBI got him.” Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security also condemned the alleged actions, noting an “8,000% increase in death threats against them.”
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, with a prohibition from returning to Delaney Hall. The charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of up to $250,000. The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, and the New York Police Department. Scelfo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.