United States of America v. Johnathan Trent Thomas

Charlotte, North Carolina criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with making threats of violence against federal law enforcement officers

Linwood, N.C. Man Charged and Arrested For Threatening To Kill Federal Agents Appears In Court

Johnathan Trent Thomas, 27, of Linwood, North Carolina, appeared in federal court today on charges of making threats of violence against federal law enforcement officers, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Thomas was arrested Friday, May 16, and remains in custody pending a detention hearing.



Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today's announcement.



According to allegations in the criminal complaint and the affidavit unsealed today in court, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m., a caller, later identified as Thomas, contacted the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and threatened to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and CMPD officers if immigration enforcement actions did not stop. During a second telephone call with a CMPD officer, Thomas allegedly warned that he was coming to Charlotte with armor piercing ammunition, night vision devices, and body armor to kill law enforcement officers and threatened to "shoot them all” if he observed anyone making arrests. Thomas allegedly was referencing arrests made previously by ICE federal agents on Albemarle Road in Charlotte.



The affidavit further alleges that Thomas stated that if a police officer pointed a gun at him, he was just going to open fire. Thomas also allegedly said that he would "Swiss cheese” the officers if they were doing the same thing they did before, meaning making arrests. Thomas allegedly made additional threats to law enforcement, including that he had Tannerite (an explosive) all around his house if the police came, and referenced April 29, 2024, which is the date that four law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in Charlotte, warning that he "could do a whole lot better than that.”



The filed affidavit also alleges that Thomas has an extensive history of threatening law enforcement, to include the Davidson County Sheriff's Office and CMPD, and on previous occasions had followed CMPD officers in marked patrol cars while they were attempting to fulfill their official duties.



On Friday, HSI agents also executed a search warrant at Thomas's residence, where they seized three rifles and a handgun.



Thomas is charged with threatening to assault or murder federal law enforcement officers which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.



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. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.



A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.