Johnathan Trent Thomas, a 27-year-old resident of Linwood, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats to kill federal law enforcement officers. The announcement was made by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for North and South Carolina, joined Ferguson in the announcement.
Court documents reveal that on May 14, 2025, Thomas called the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and CMPD officers if immigration enforcement actions continued. In a subsequent call with a CMPD officer, Thomas stated he would come to Charlotte equipped with armor piercing ammunition, night vision devices, and body armor to kill law enforcement officers. He threatened to “shoot them all” if he saw anyone making arrests and referenced previous ICE arrests on Albemarle Road in Charlotte.
Thomas further told police that if an officer pointed a gun at him, he would open fire. He said he would “Swiss cheese” the officers if they were arresting people as before. Additional threats included claims that he had Tannerite explosives around his house should police arrive. He also referenced April 29, 2024—the date when four law enforcement officers were killed in Charlotte—warning that he “could do a whole lot better than that.” A search warrant executed at Thomas’s home led to the seizure of three rifles, a handgun, and various ammunition.
Records show Thomas has a history of threatening law enforcement agencies such as the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and CMPD. He had previously followed CMPD officers while they performed their duties.
Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of threatening to murder federal law enforcement officers. This charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. He remains in federal custody pending sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI for investigating the case and thanked multiple agencies for their assistance: "In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI for the investigation of the case and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of North Carolina, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance."
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Kelly and Stephanie Spaugh are prosecuting this case.
