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West Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Soliciting Violence Against ICE Agents

Christopher Bentley, 34, of Pennsboro, admitted to encouraging others to kill federal law enforcement officers in Facebook posts.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Sep 1, 2026, 2:27 p.m. ETWritten Sep 1, 2026, 6:10 p.m. ET
A Pennsboro, West Virginia, man guilty on September 1, 2026, to solicitation to commit a crime of violence, according to the for the Northern District of West Virginia. Christopher Bentley, 34, admitted to posting statements on Facebook encouraging people to kill Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, including details about body armor and firearms, the office said. Bentley faces . A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided. U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey said, “Targeting federal law enforcement officers is not just dangerous—it is an attack on the rule of law itself. Soliciting violence online is a serious federal crime, and we will respond decisively to protect the men and women who keep our communities safe.” The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative.

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  1. Version 11 Sept 2026, 22:10current

    First published.

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