Authorities investigating Calif. man in alleged e-mail threats to DEA agents, families

Calif. man investigated over alleged DEA threats

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Northern California man arrested after park rangers allegedly spotted him waving a handgun at a national monument near the Oregon border will likely face more charges for threatening to kill federal agents and their families, authorities said Saturday.

Micha Godfrey was arrested Thursday after park rangers at Lava Beds National Monument saw him acting suspicious and found that the convicted felon was carrying a revolver and wearing a bulletproof vest.

The 37-year-old was charged Friday with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He has been placed on a federal hold in Sacramento County Jail, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 26.

Godfrey had already been under investigation for threatening to kill Drug Enforcement Agency agents and their families, and authorities on Friday seized thousands of rounds of ammunition from his home in Tule Lake, which is about 10 miles from the national monument.

The DEA said in a statement that it received information earlier this month suggesting that Godfrey made the threats toward the DEA in e-mails he sent to a Web site supporting medical marijuana. DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gordon Taylor said authorities have obtained the e-mails but have not released specifics, including the Web site address.

Godfrey had a means to carry out his promise to bomb or burn DEA agents and their children, Taylor said.

“We took the threat very seriously in light of what’s happened recently. All you have to do is look at the Pentagon shooting,” he said, referring to the gunman who shot at police officers in front of the Pentagon earlier this month.

The DEA, working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, also took four firearms, a second bulletproof vest, a computer and marijuana plants from Godfrey’s home on Friday.

Godfrey has two prior felony convictions: one for first degree burglary in 1992 and another from 2001 for obstructing or resisting an executive officer.