Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Federal Deportation Officer’s Wife in Atlanta

ATLANTA – Anthony Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, has pleaded guilty to knowingly transmitting a threat to injure the wife of a federal deportation officer. The plea comes after Noto made threatening comments online, targeting the officer’s spouse.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Noto posted a comment on Instagram under a photo of the officer’s wife, saying, “Anybody wanna test the sites on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” The reference to “A-R” indicated a semiautomatic rifle. Federal prosecutors said this threat placed the officer’s family in danger and violated federal law.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg condemned Noto’s actions, saying, “Threatening to harm a federal agent’s spouse, child, or other loved one is inexcusable, outrageous, and illegal. My office will bring to justice anyone who commits or threatens violence against federal agents and their families.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown added, “Threatening law enforcement officers or their families will not be tolerated. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who threaten violence against law enforcement officers and anyone connected to them.”

Sentencing for Noto is scheduled for April 16, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. While the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines will guide the sentence, the final decision rests with the Court.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Eric White. Noto was originally indicted on September 23, 2025.