DHS Launches Investigation into American Citizen Who Attempted to Purchase Firearm to “Kill ICE Agents”

 

Radical rhetoric by sanctuary politicians leads to an unprecedented 1,300% increase in assaults against ICE officers and a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced an investigation into a female U.S. citizen who attempted to purchase a firearm on two separate occasions and stated she wanted to “buy a gun to protect herself from ICE Agents, and also to kill ICE Agents.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New York State Police (NYSP) are investigating the purchase attempts which occurred in Kenmore, New York.

“Every day there are more assaults, more vehicle-ramming attacks, more attempts to kill our officers. Now, we have an American citizen purchasing a gun with the intent to KILL our officers,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences. The men and women of ICE and CBP are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. Like everyone else, they just want to go home to their families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s message is clear: you will not stop or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The public can report doxing and harassment against ICE officers by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing ICE’s online tip form.

Former Senior Bank Executive, Edward Gene Smith, Pleads Guilty To Sexual Assault, Child Pornography, And Obstruction Of Justice Offenses

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that EDWARD GENE SMITH pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to drugging a female victim (“Victim-1”) with the intent to rape her, enticing another female victim (“Victim-2”) to travel to New York where SMITH drugged and sexually assaulted her, receipt of child pornography, and obstruction of justice. SMITH also admitted to additional conduct relating to other victims.  SMITH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Engelmayer on May 8, 2026.  

“Edward Gene Smith is a predator,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “He used money, access, and his influence in our community to identify, lure, drug, and sexually assault young women.  He trafficked in images of child sexual abuse.  He thought he could evade the law by paying a victim to sign a false statement.  This case sends two messages: there is no place in New York for sexual predators, and those who seek to obstruct justice will be brought to justice.” 

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment, admissions the defendant has made in connection with the plea, public documents, and statements made in court:

Between approximately 2015 and June 2024, SMITH, who was during that approximate time period a senior executive of major financial institutions, planned to drug, attempted to drug, and/or drugged numerous women with the intent to incapacitate them and/or render them unable to consent to sexual activity.  SMITH did, in fact, engage in sexual activity with multiple of these women, and, in at least some cases, surreptitiously took videos or photographs of his criminal sexual activity.

At least on or about April 23, 2023, SMITH drugged and raped Victim-1 in his Central Park South residence.  Specifically, unbeknownst to Victim-1, SMITH gave Victim-1 one or more alcoholic beverages that he had laced with Klonopin, a controlled substance.  After Victim-1 consumed the drugged drink, SMITH physically restrained Victim-1 and raped her while she was unconscious.  While Victim-1 was still unconscious, SMITH also took a video of himself sexually assaulting Victim-1, and then shared that video with others via an encrypted messaging platform, on a channel that was dedicated to sharing depictions of incapacitated or unconscious women in sexually exploitative positions.

Previously, between in or about 2019 and in or about 2020, SMITH repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted Victim-2. SMITH met Victim-2 in 2019 when Victim-2 was a college student and persuaded Victim-2 to relocate to New York City, which she did.  SMITH thereafter controlled Victim-2’s finances, social life, and activities, and repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted Victim-2 over the course of several months.  During this time period, SMITH caused Victim-2 to engage in sexual activity through coercion and force, including threatened and physical assault and physical restraint.  Additionally, SMITH informed Victim-2 of one or more firearms that he possessed and showed Victim-2 at least one such firearm.

In or about the fall of 2021, SMITH communicated with another victim (“Victim-3”), who was then 17 years old.  SMITH followed a similar pattern with Victim-3.  While Victim-3 was still 17 years old, SMITH solicited explicit photographs from Victim-3.  Shortly after Victim-3 turned 18 years old, SMITH caused Victim-3 to travel to New York City, attempted to drug Victim-3, and then physically and sexually assaulted her. In or about October 2023, SMITH caused Victim-3 to travel to New York City again, which she did, and drugged and sexually assaulted her.  Around this time, SMITH also posted Victim-3’s photographs and personal contact information to a website advertising prostitution services, without Victim-3’s knowledge.

Between approximately 2012 and June 2024, SMITH also received via the internet and possessed a large volume of images and videos on his personal devices that depicted children, including prepubescent children, being sexually abused.

In or about August 2024, after a search warrant was executed at SMITH’s residence, revealing that SMITH possessed child pornography on his electronic devices, SMITH paid Victim-1 thousands of dollars to sign a false document in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.  Also in or about August 2024, SMITH solicited other individuals to sign false documents in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.

If you have been victimized by SMITH in any way or have any additional information about his illegal behavior, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

SMITH, 50, of New York, New York, was arrested on September 10, 2024 and has been detained since January 8, 2025. SMITH pled guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of enticement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The mandatory minimum and maximum sentences described above are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Westchester County

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Manuel Boitel, who died on January 23, 2026 following a motor vehicle incident involving an off-duty member of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on January 22, 2026 on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County.

At approximately 11:39 p.m. on January 22, an off-duty NYPD sergeant was driving on the Taconic State Parkway near mile marker 3.7 when they struck another vehicle driven by Mr. Boitel. Mr. Boitel was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on January 23.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change.   

Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul

“Today's announcement by the Gateway Development Commission is just the latest collateral damage of Donald Trump's vindictive quest to hurt New Yorkers no matter the cost. The stakes are enormous: hundreds of thousands of daily commuters, 10,000 union jobs and billions of dollars in economic benefits all now imperiled by Donald Trump's attempts to rip away infrastructure funding from New York.

“Make no mistake, the Gateway Tunnel is vital to the economy of this state and the entire region, and I will fight like hell to ensure it gets built.”

 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Federal Actions Threaten NY's Farms and Food Production

 

New York farmers are under increasing economic and financial pressure because of federal policy changes, including higher tariffs, cuts to certain agricultural programs, and stricter immigration enforcement policies, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. These challenges could diminish farm production, squeeze profits, and lead to higher prices for consumers.

“There is real concern in rural New York about federal cuts, tariffs and labor shortages,” said DiNapoli. “New York’s farms are a vital part of the state’s economy and our local food supply, and we need policies that strengthen, not undermine their production and that lower, not drive up, prices in the grocery store.”

Agriculture is an important part of the state’s economy. New York’s 30,650 farms contributed nearly $3 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2022 and employed or supported 163,148 jobs in 2019. However, DiNapoli’s report identified impacts to the financial viability of family farms in the state from recent federal actions.

USDA Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assists farmers through grants, subsidies, loans and technical support. In 2022, 3,275 farms in New York received $66.3 million in direct federal payments, excluding crop insurance payments. In addition, the state received $382 million in USDA payments from three major programs, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development. These programs fund a wide variety of projects on and off the farm, including housing, community water systems, renewable energy projects, guaranteed farm loans, conservation reserve programs and technical assistance for environmental projects. Nearly every county in New York receives assistance from at least one of the programs.

DiNapoli’s report breaks down changes to federal funding for agriculture, including reductions over 10 years of $1.8 billion for conservation and $150 million to forestry programs, and a cut of $84 million in federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 appropriations for the Farm Service Agency. While some commodities and crop insurance programs will receive increased funding, these changes are likely to have limited impact in New York. New York’s dairy sector may be the only local commodity to see a significant benefit since most programs are geared toward crops like sugar, wheat and cotton not widely grown in New York. Inflation, coupled with flat funding for other programs, may undermine USDA’s support for farmers and rural communities in New York.

In addition, the decrease in funding for nutritional assistance programs will mean less money spent at grocery stores, farmers markets and for purchases by food banks, resulting in a loss of markets for farms.

Tariffs

Tariffs are impacting farmers, affecting their ability to sell their products around the world, and increasing the cost of supplies and equipment for farms that already operate on thin margins. New York dairy exports declined by as much as 12% in the first half of 2025 vs. 2024, and U.S. soybean sales to China dropped from 985 million bushels in 2024 to 218 million in the first eight months of 2025.

DiNapoli’s report found that prices have climbed for imported fertilizers, steel and farm equipment. In July, the National Corn Growers Association found that fertilizer prices had increased from the first of the year between 4.7% and 37.6%, depending on the type of fertilizer. Increased uncertainty around markets and production costs makes it tougher for farmers to plan for future growing seasons.

Immigration

New York farms employed more than 56,000 people in 2022, excluding contract farm laborers, according to the USDA. Many of the workers are immigrants who plant and pick crops and work with farm animals. In 2023, nearly 10,000 were employed through the seasonal H2A federal guest worker visa program, but New York’s Agriculture Commissioner estimates as many as half of the farm labor workforce in the state was undocumented in 2018.

Recent immigration enforcement has been a concern for many farmers, especially those in the dairy industry. Even the U.S. Department of Labor recognizes this as a serious issue for the nation’s food supply, saying there could be significant disruptions to production costs and it threatens the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S consumers.

The report noted that the loss of farm employees at crucial points in the growing season, or in the case of dairy farms, at any point in the year, could devastate individual farms.

Report

Federal Impact: New York State Farming and Agriculture

Related Reports

Federal Actions Threaten to Exacerbate Rising Food Insecurity

A Profile of Agriculture in New York State 

ASSEMBLYWOMAN RAJKUMAR'S EMERGENCY STATEMENT ON SNOW REMOVAL IN SOUTH QUEENS

 

I am aware of dangerous and unacceptable walking conditions across South Queens due to insufficient snow removal at key locations—including the path to PS 62, the school bus stop on Cross Bay Boulevard, and multiple MTA bus stops.

I am actively coordinating with the Department of Sanitation and community partners to address these conditions and clear safe, walkable paths as quickly as possible. Ensuring that students can get to school safely, commuters can access transit, and residents can move through their neighborhood without risk is an immediate priority.

If you are experiencing a snow removal issue in your area, please contact my office right away. Call or text 347-585-0327 or email grossj@nyassembly.gov. Reports from residents help us target problem areas and respond faster.

We are taking action so that South Queens is safe and accessible for everyone.

Partnerships for Parks - Budgeting 101 with TD Bank and Winter Garden Tour

 

Budgeting 101 for Grassroots Groups with TD Bank Is your grassroots organization applying for grants or receiving donations? Are you wondering how to manage your funds? Join financial experts from TD Bank as they walk through the basics of budgeting for small nonprofits and community-based organizations dedicated to local parks. You’ll also have a chance for your group’s budget to be reviewed by these experts. In this workshop, you will learn: Budgeting basics for small nonprofits and community-based organizations Planning tips for annual or event-based budgets Personalized pointers on budget organization   Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, 6-7:30 p.m.  1 Vanderbilt Ave., 20th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017 REGISTER NOW Garden Tour: Winter Flora in Tompkins Square Park Join us to explore Tompkins Square Park’s pollinator pocket gardens in the midst of the winter season. Kathleen Corrigan, volunteer gardener with Friends of Tompkins Square Park and native plant expert, will teach about caring for gardens when plants are largely dormant. You’ll also have the opportunity to see some rare February blooms! Come ready to learn and connect with other native plant enthusiasts. Coffee and snacks will be provided.   Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, 11 a.m.–noon Tompkins Square Park, corner of Avenue B and East Seventh Street, New York, N.Y. 10009 REGISTER NOW Partnerships for Parks is a joint program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks that supports and champions a growing network of leaders caring and advocating for neighborhood parks and green spaces. We equip people and organizations with the skills and tools needed to ensure these spaces are dynamic community assets.

ICE Officers Face an 8,000% Increase in Death Threats Against Them and Their Families

DHS calls on sanctuary politicians to stop the dehumanization and vilification of ICE law enforcement 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a threatening voicemail left for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minnesota on January 24. Our law enforcement officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them while they put their lives on the line to remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists from American neighborhoods.

A transcript of the voicemail is below:

“You’re a f**king fascist pig. You should f**king kill yourself.

“I hope your wife dies. I hope your mom and dad die. I hope everything wrong that could go in your life happens. I hope you have the most miserable life. 

“I hope you get hit by a bus. I hope you’re paralyzed, and your wife leaves you, and starts getting f**ked by BBCs every day.

“You are a traitor to the American people, to the values that made our country. You should kill yourself. You’re f**king disgusting.

“I hate you. Everyone hates you. You’re a f**king murderer. All of your friends are f**king murderers. Your bosses are a bunch of pedophiles.

“Kill yourself.”

Below is a statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin:

“Our ICE law enforcement officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from American neighborhoods. Make no mistake, threatening rhetoric and this unprecedented violence against our law enforcement is incited by sanctuary politicians through their repeated vilification and demonization of law enforcement. Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences. The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. Like everyone else, we just want to go home to our families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”

Secretary Noem’s message is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. Assaulting and obstructing law enforcement is not only dangerous but is a federal crime and a felony. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer or dox our officers, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The public can report doxing and harassment against ICE officers by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing ICE’s online tip form.