Grand Haven Man Gets Prison for Internet Threats
Defendant threatened to use chemical weapons against ICE agents
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN / Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Christopher Ray Plyler, 43, of Grand Haven, Michigan was sentenced to 12 months in prison for communicating an interstate threat, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou said, “As an American, you have an absolute right to speak out, but there’s a line you can’t cross,” and “threats will not be tolerated.”
Between November 2025 and January 2026, Plyler posted a dozen threatening comments in response to YouTube videos about civil unrest in Minneapolis. In one message, Plyler discussed using chemical gas to attack Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Federal agents found that Plyler used Google to search for instructions on making hazardous chemical gases. He had also searched for the home address of a former Secretary of Homeland Security. In May 2026, Plyler pled guilty to posting a message that read, “Let them come I’m ready to kill ICE Nazis and make them pay with their lives the war is on.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “Threatening federal officers for doing their job will not be tolerated in this district. Our immigration laws were enacted by our representatives in Congress and they will be enforced. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been given this job, and it is unreasonable for anyone to direct their anger towards them for doing it. Nobody gets to veto federal law by making threats against these officers, and anyone who tries will be prosecuted by my office.”
“There is a clear line between expressing an opinion and threatening to kill federal law enforcement officers. Crossing that line has consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I am grateful for the outstanding work of our FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force and the United States Secret Service. Their diligence, coordination, and commitment helped disrupt a potential threat before it could be carried out.”
“Today’s sentence underscores that threatening government officials is a serious federal crime with significant consequences,” said David Dobb, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Grand Rapids Resident Office. “The U.S. Secret Service will continue to work with our partners to investigate threats, support successful prosecutions, and ensure those who target public officials are held accountable.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan
