Michigan man charged over social media threats to kill FBI Director

Federal authorities arrested a man in southeast Michigan on Friday for threatening the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Anthony Daniel Palazzolo, 42, of Chesterfield Township, was charged with interstate communications involving threats. Prosecutors in the Eastern District of Michigan say he sent Facebook messages in early October stating his intent to kill FBI Director Kash Patel and an associate. Court records indicate the alleged threats were posted on October 8. In one message, Palazzolo wrote, "i put a hit on you" and called Patel "a dead mf too." He used the alias Baby Bird for the communication.

The investigation began when federal agents traced his digital footprint. FBI Special Agent Brian Koczenasz filed a criminal complaint noting that investigators used Palazzolo's Facebook and TikTok accounts to locate his home. The residence is approximately 30 miles north of Detroit. Agents arrived at the property on October 9 to conduct an interview.

During the meeting, Palazzolo explained his actions. He told the agents he believed the government was violating his property rights. He admitted to sending the threatening messages and apologized. The complaint states he said he had no intent to harm anyone. He also mentioned contacting several federal law enforcement agencies to complain about their response to his concerns. Before the agents left, one officer gave Palazzolo his personal cellphone number and government email address.

The situation escalated after the interview. On October 12, Palazzolo sent emails to the officer, a district court in Texas, the Secret Service, and the Supreme Court. These messages included threats of sexual violence. The next day, he called the officer and left two voicemails. In the voicemails, he threatened to use deadly force on federal officials.

Palazzolo appeared before Magistrate Judge David R. Grand in federal court in Michigan on Friday. The judge ordered him temporarily detained. A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday. Palazzolo did not enter a plea. A defense attorney appointed to represent him did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US Attorney's Office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is not the first time Patel has been the target of a threat. In March, a Massachusetts man named Alden Welch Ruml was arrested for sending a threatening email to Patel's fiancee, Alexis Wilkins. Ruml also faces a felony charge for interstate communications involving threats. He pleaded not guilty and has a jury trial set for February.