Man charged over threats to FBI chief
Anthony Palazzolo faces felony charges after sending messages to Kash Patel and an associate on social media.
By Fatou Mitchell ·
Anthony Daniel Palazzolo, a 42-year-old resident of Chesterfield Township, Michigan, was arrested on Friday and charged with threatening FBI Director Kash Patel. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Michigan announced the charges, which include interstate communications involving threats.
According to court records, Palazzolo used Facebook to send messages in early October. He referred to himself as Baby Bird in the correspondence. The office of US Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. stated that Palazzolo messaged an unidentified associate of Patel on October 8. In that message, he wrote, "i put a hit on you" and described Patel as "a dead mf too."
FBI Special Agent Brian Koczenasz traced Palazzolo to his home using his Facebook and TikTok accounts. The address is located about 30 miles north of Detroit. Agents visited the residence on October 9 for an interview. The criminal complaint notes that Palazzolo wanted to discuss his belief that the government was violating his property rights.
During the interview, Palazzolo admitted to sending the messages. He apologized and stated he had no intent to harm anyone, according to the complaint. He also told agents he had contacted several federal law enforcement agencies to complain about what he viewed as an insufficient response to his concerns.
After the interview, a FBI Task Force officer gave Palazzolo his personal cellphone number and government email address. On October 12, Palazzolo emailed that officer, a Texas district court, the Secret Service, and the Supreme Court with threats of sexual violence. The following day, he called the officer and left two voicemails threatening 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 has not entered a plea. A defense attorney appointed to represent him did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This case follows a similar incident in March involving a Massachusetts man, Alden Welch Ruml. Ruml was charged with sending a threatening email to Patel’s fiancée, Alexis Wilkins. He pleaded not guilty and faces a jury trial in February.
