A Michigan man accused of making death threats to kill LGBTQ people, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, other politicians and federal agents was arrested and charged with owning guns he was prohibited from having.
A new criminal case unsealed on Friday in U.S. District Court alleges 30-year-old Randal Robert Berka II, of Sebawaing, Michigan, posted threats on a YouTube channel that were flagged by Google. It says his mother bought him three long guns and a pistol in the last year despite his history of mental illness.
The FBI said in the complaint that Berka posted comments, including that he was “more than willing to kill” Whitmer and that President Joe Biden “deserves to die.” He also threatened FBI agents and said he’d kill anyone who tried to take his weapons.
WHITMER KIDNAPPING PLOT:3 men sentenced seven to 12 years in kidnap plot against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Mother purchased guns, but feared her son
Berka’s mother said she grew to fear him — so much so that she cooperated with the FBI in securing criminal charges against her son this week, authorities said.
She “is scared of Berka, does not think the mental health treatment is working, and believes Berka should be arrested and put in prison,” an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit.
After learning of the comments, the FBI visited Berka’s mother on Thursday at her workplace.
She told the FBI that her son was previously involuntarily committed, takes medication, uses marijuana daily and has four guns in his bedroom — guns that she bought for him — along with ammunition and body armor.
Berka was involuntarily committed for mental health treatment in 2012 and declared legally incapacitated, which prohibited him from owning a gun, according to the complaint.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on whether charges would be brought against the mother.
Berka’s alleged statements that raised red flags included anti-LGBTQ hate speech and disturbing descriptions of violent threats toward lawmakers. He also allegedly talked about using his gun “on a drag show.”
LAWMAKERS TARGET DRAG:Tennessee drag show restrictions, ban on gender-affirming care for minors signed into law
Google reports threats made on YouTube
According to the FBI, Google assisted in the arrest by alerting the FBI about the threats, triggering an investigation that led federal agents to Berka’s house.
Berka, who was arrested on Thursday at his home and charged with illegally possessing firearms, landed on the FBI’s radar after allegedly making numerous threats over YouTube to kill.
U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison thanked Google for the heads up. “I applaud Google’s vigilance in this matter, and we hope members of the community will, likewise, pay attention and report such conduct to law enforcement,” she said in a statement Friday.
ANOTHER MICHIGAN MAN CHARGED WITH THREATS:Man allegedly threatened to kill Michigan attorney general, other Jewish officials
Berka is jailed pending a detention hearing on March 15, when a judge will decide whether to release him on bond or keep him locked up pending the outcome of his case.
Federal prosecutors plan to ask the judge to keep Berka locked up.
If convicted, Berka faces up to 15 years in prison.
Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com