U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual | U.S. Department of Justice
A man from Machesney Park, Illinois, has been sentenced to over three years in federal prison for making threats against law enforcement officers and illegally possessing firearms. Jacob Balabuszko, 28, acknowledged in a plea agreement that he threatened FBI officials after they interviewed him in 2020 and 2021 as part of an investigation.
Balabuszko admitted to saying, "Next time you two come to my house unannounced, I’m going to shoot you on sight, that is a threat." He also made further threats in a Signal chat group, encouraging others to harm law enforcement officers by collecting their badges, shooting out their tires, and burning down their homes. The plea agreement revealed that Balabuszko had the means to carry out these threats due to his illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and body armor.
U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Balabuszko to 41 months in federal prison on Wednesday.
The announcement was made by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Illinois State Police played a role in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd represented the government.
