Jeannette Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Dale Ankney, 72, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat.
2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 1, 2026, 3:20 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Sep 1, 2026, 3:20 a.m. ETFirst report
Jeannette Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers
A Jeannette, Pennsylvania, man pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening to murder federal law enforcement officers, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced on August 31, 2026.
Dale Ankney, 72, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand to three counts of retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat. According to the plea, a review of Ankney's publicly available social media account revealed posts advocating violence against ICE and IRS agents.
On June 17, 2026, an FBI special agent and two task force officers attempted to interview Ankney at his residence. After identifying themselves, Ankney became agitated and told them to leave, saying "I will cap your ass." The next day, the FBI arrested Ankney, who waived his rights and clarified that "cap" meant he was threatening to shoot the FBI. A search warrant executed at his residence led to the seizure of 21 firearms, two firearm silencers, firearm magazines, and ammunition.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2027. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna, and the investigation was conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
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Revision history
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 07:22current
First published.
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 07:20current
First published.
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