Federal agents arrested a suburban man Friday morning on charges of making violent threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and “well-known political figures,” according to court records reviewed by ABC7’s I-Team.
Michael Stover, 33, appeared in U.S. District Court later in the day, shackled, and was charged with a felony count of making a true threat against immigration and public officials.
Prosecutors said federal agents arrested Stover shortly after 10 a.m. in a Downers Grove apartment parking lot. The FBI’s Chicago office later posted photos of the Joint Terrorism Task Force at the scene, the local outlet reported.
A criminal complaint unsealed Friday accuses Stover of posting multiple threats on social media, including threats to kill ICE agents earlier this year and threats against the U.S. president.
“The us president just said he wants to purpose build concentration camps for his political enemies,” Stover allegedly wrote online back in April. “Its war right here and now against this attacker or we die in slavery. Put down your posters and selfie sticks and pick up a weapon!”
Prosecutors say Stover posted a photo in February showing five rifle bullets labeled with the first names of prominent U.S. political figures, placed atop two hunting knives.
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The FBI’s National Threat Operations Center had monitored his online activity for months and alerted the U.S. Secret Service, which opened an investigation in May.
On May 7, according to court records, Downers Grove police and the FBI filed a “Clear and Present Danger” request with the Illinois State Police, leading to the revocation of Stover’s Firearm Owner’s Identification card, ABC7 reported.
Federal prosecutors said that the day after his FOID card was revoked, Downers Grove police responded to a 911 domestic-disturbance call at Stover’s residence.
When officers arrived, Stover allegedly opened the door, shut it, then reappeared with his hands raised, an empty holster, a pocketknife, and a loaded magazine on his hip.
No charges were filed in connection with the disturbance, but given his firearm collection and the revoked FOID card, police arrested him and seized six handguns, five rifles, a shotgun, and ammunition — including the five rifle rounds marked with the names of prominent U.S. political figures.
Stover was later released after state prosecutors declined to pursue unlawful possession charges, said the outlet.
After his release, Stover was interviewed by a Downers Grove Crisis Intervention sergeant and the FBI, during which he “expressed frustration about global affairs and the U.S. government,” according to prosecutors.
They say the encounter did not deter him from continuing to post threats on social media. Court records show he remained active on his Blue Sky account, using increasingly extreme language.
“ICE is a terrorist organization,” Stover allegedly wrote in a July 7 post, according to the criminal complaint against him. “Share this if you think we should shoot them down like dogs.”
At his initial court appearance, Stover told U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David Weisman that he was employed in air conditioning. He has not yet entered a plea to the federal charge.
Citing the violent nature of his alleged posts, federal prosecutors requested that he remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Last month, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that a woman had been arrested for threatening President Trump.
“Hi everyone, it’s Judge Jeanine. I just wanted to let you know here from the United States Attorney’s Office in D.C. that an individual by the name of Nathalie Rose Jones is now in custody, charged with two federal crimes for knowingly and willfully threatening to take the life of the President of the United States,” Pirro said in a clip she released on social media.
A DC grand jury, however, refused to indict her, despite the fact that Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024 on the campaign trail.
