CLARKSBURG, WV – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside additional federal and state law enforcement agencies in West Virginia, arrested a 20-year-old man this past January after the suspect allegedly threatened to murder ICE agents in the Clarksburg area.
Cody Lee Smith is currently facing charges of making terroristic threats after authorities say social media posts in tandem with an allegedly incriminating phone call led to federal authorities executing a search warrant at his home in late January.
According to local reports regarding Smith’s arrest, Smith seemingly attached himself to the broader social media phenomenon of making antagonistic posts and videos online regarding ICE agents as well as “Trump supporters and/or war supporters and/or service members willing to ‘bootlick,’” per the charging documents in the case.
However, authorities say the content Smith posted online stepped over the line of mere antagonism and crossed into criminal territory, alleging the suspect called up the ICE Tip Line on January 16th and “threatened to kill any ICE agents he saw in Clarksburg,” according to a press release from the agency.
U.S. Secret Service reportedly identified Smith’s Instagram page which allegedly featured a video recording of the incriminating phone call made to the ICE Tip Line, with a search warrant being executed at Smith’s home on January 22nd. Smith was subsequently taken into custody while also having his cellphone taken into evidence.
On February 3rd, a preliminary hearing was held at the Harrison County Magistrate Court where Judge Warren Davis found probable cause in the matter and sent the case to circuit court.
Homeland Security Investigations D.C. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf issued a statement regarding Smith’s arrest, saying, “HSI is committed to actively pursuing anyone who threatens the brave agents and officers who protect our communities. We will work tirelessly to investigate these threats and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
Smith is currently being held on a $75,000 bond while he awaits trial.
Cody Lee Smith is currently facing charges of making terroristic threats after authorities say social media posts in tandem with an allegedly incriminating phone call led to federal authorities executing a search warrant at his home in late January.
According to local reports regarding Smith’s arrest, Smith seemingly attached himself to the broader social media phenomenon of making antagonistic posts and videos online regarding ICE agents as well as “Trump supporters and/or war supporters and/or service members willing to ‘bootlick,’” per the charging documents in the case.
However, authorities say the content Smith posted online stepped over the line of mere antagonism and crossed into criminal territory, alleging the suspect called up the ICE Tip Line on January 16th and “threatened to kill any ICE agents he saw in Clarksburg,” according to a press release from the agency.
U.S. Secret Service reportedly identified Smith’s Instagram page which allegedly featured a video recording of the incriminating phone call made to the ICE Tip Line, with a search warrant being executed at Smith’s home on January 22nd. Smith was subsequently taken into custody while also having his cellphone taken into evidence.
On February 3rd, a preliminary hearing was held at the Harrison County Magistrate Court where Judge Warren Davis found probable cause in the matter and sent the case to circuit court.
Homeland Security Investigations D.C. Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf issued a statement regarding Smith’s arrest, saying, “HSI is committed to actively pursuing anyone who threatens the brave agents and officers who protect our communities. We will work tirelessly to investigate these threats and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
Smith is currently being held on a $75,000 bond while he awaits trial.
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