A Westmoreland County man was taken into federal custody Thursday morning after allegedly making multiple death threats toward U.S. agents online and in person.Dale Ankney lives along Cowan Avenue in Jeannette. Since the start of 2026, investigators allege that he has made more than a dozen threats. More than a dozen of those came from a Facebook account linked to Ankney.“Review revealed numerous posts in which ANKNEY advocated acts of violence against U.S. ICE agents, IRS agents, U.S. politicians, and others,” the criminal complaint says. “ posted a comment via Facebook that stated, “ EVIL ice agents & pigs must be KILLED in public. We the People will do the KILLING.”That led to agents confronting the accused at his Jeannette home on Wednesday morning. That interaction, according to investigators, led to Ankney saying he’d shoot the agents. “They were engaged in, and on account of, the performance of their official duties by stating to the task force officer and special agent, “I will cap your (expletive),” the complaint detailed.That led to a slew of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies showing back up on Cowan Avenue on Thursday morning. “I have yet to see anything federal,” Cowan Avenue resident Richard Sylvester said. “That’s for sure down here.” “At first, we saw SWAT,” Ron Kulka, another resident, said. “Then, we saw about eight unmarked cars all along the road. It was really something to see.”Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube ChannelOfficers raided Ankney’s home, and he was arrested Thursday morning. FBI Pittsburgh issued the following statement about the incident. “This morning, FBI Pittsburgh and our partners with the Joint Terrorism Task Force executed federal search and arrest warrants at a residence in Jeannette, PA. An individual at that address was charged with threatening federal law enforcement entities and public officials.FBI Pittsburgh and our JTTF partners want to make it clear: threats against those who protect this nation and those who serve the public will not be tolerated. Words that cross the line well beyond First Amendment protections will be met with decisive law enforcement action. You will be held accountable. This investigation is ongoing.”Neighbors who interacted with Ankney said they’re not surprised by his arrest. “Both of my encounters were unpleasant,” Sylvester said. “Both were extremely hostile, both were abnormal to say the least. One time he said, I’ll get a gun and shoot you. The other was that I’ll kill you. It was just stupid things that regular people don’t say. So, I’m not surprised.”Ankney isn’t connected to any criminal documents in the state of Pennsylvania. Jeannette Police Chief Derek Manley told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that his office has had “minimal encounters” with the accused. Ankney is accused of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat.The investigation is ongoing. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
JEANNETTE, Pa. —
A Westmoreland County man was taken into federal custody Thursday morning after allegedly making multiple death threats toward U.S. agents online and in person.
Dale Ankney lives along Cowan Avenue in Jeannette. Since the start of 2026, investigators allege that he has made more than a dozen threats. More than a dozen of those came from a Facebook account linked to Ankney.
“Review revealed numerous posts in which ANKNEY advocated acts of violence against U.S. ICE agents, IRS agents, U.S. politicians, and others,” the criminal complaint says. “[Ankney] posted a comment via Facebook that stated, “[Expletive] EVIL ice agents & pigs must be KILLED in public. We the People will do the KILLING.”
That led to agents confronting the accused at his Jeannette home on Wednesday morning. That interaction, according to investigators, led to Ankney saying he’d shoot the agents.
“They were engaged in, and on account of, the performance of their official duties by stating to the task force officer and special agent, “I will cap your (expletive),” the complaint detailed.
That led to a slew of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies showing back up on Cowan Avenue on Thursday morning.
“I have yet to see anything federal,” Cowan Avenue resident Richard Sylvester said. “That’s for sure down here.”
“At first, we saw SWAT,” Ron Kulka, another resident, said. “Then, we saw about eight unmarked cars all along the road. It was really something to see.”
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
Officers raided Ankney’s home, and he was arrested Thursday morning. FBI Pittsburgh issued the following statement about the incident.
“This morning, FBI Pittsburgh and our partners with the Joint Terrorism Task Force executed federal search and arrest warrants at a residence in Jeannette, PA. An individual at that address was charged with threatening federal law enforcement entities and public officials.
FBI Pittsburgh and our JTTF partners want to make it clear: threats against those who protect this nation and those who serve the public will not be tolerated. Words that cross the line well beyond First Amendment protections will be met with decisive law enforcement action. You will be held accountable.
This investigation is ongoing.”
Neighbors who interacted with Ankney said they’re not surprised by his arrest.
“Both of my encounters [with Ankney] were unpleasant,” Sylvester said. “Both were extremely hostile, both were abnormal to say the least. One time he said, I’ll get a gun and shoot you. The other was that I’ll kill you. It was just stupid things that regular people don’t say. So, I’m not surprised.”
Ankney isn’t connected to any criminal documents in the state of Pennsylvania. Jeannette Police Chief Derek Manley told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that his office has had “minimal encounters” with the accused.
Ankney is accused of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat.
The investigation is ongoing.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.