A Washington state man is now facing federal charges after what authorities describe as a months-long barrage of online threats aimed at a southeast Michigan disc-golf company. A criminal complaint unsealed May 27 accuses the man of repeatedly demanding money and posting videos that appeared to show him handling and firing a handgun, leaving employees shaken and prompting rapid upgrades to the company’s security.
Federal agents identified the suspect as Domenic Griffin, who is accused of cyberstalking and making interstate threats with intent to extort, according to ClickOnDetroit. The complaint outlines a pattern of posts beginning in February 2025 that escalated into explicit demands for money, including a nearly 25-minute Jan. 3 video in which Griffin allegedly demanded $100 million. Investigators say he also posted shorter clips that seem to show him firing a handgun at outdoor and indoor ranges, along with messages threatening the company and its workers. In one message, he allegedly warned that “there will be absolutely no mercy after today.”
Company and Employees on Edge
The company, which sponsored Griffin from 2021 until his resignation in December 2024, told investigators it cut off contact after he left. Staff members said their concern spiked as the online posts piled up. According to the criminal complaint, one employee reported being very concerned, while another said they were afraid to come to work. That fear pushed the business to install a two-way video intercom, tighten visitor policies and brief local police on the building’s layout, steps described as immediate safety measures while federal agents continued their work, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
What Federal Charges Mean
Federal law treats repeated electronic threats and online extortion that cross state lines as serious crimes. Under federal cyberstalking and interstate threats statutes, prosecutors can bring charges when online conduct places victims in reasonable fear of death or serious injury or is tied to demands for money, according to the Legal Information Institute. Penalties vary depending on the specific statute and the severity of the alleged conduct, and can include multi-year prison sentences when credible threats or extortion are involved.
Federal Enforcement and Local Context
Federal prosecutors in Detroit have recently highlighted cases that show how seriously authorities now treat online harassment and extortion. In January 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced a guilty plea in a cyberstalking case involving AI-generated images used to harass and extort a social-media influencer, a reminder that “online” abuse can carry very offline consequences, per the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan.
More broadly, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged over a million complaints and roughly $21 billion in reported losses last year, a snapshot of just how large the cybercrime problem has become, according to the FBI.
The unsealed complaint makes the allegations against Griffin public, but it does not determine guilt. The investigation remains active, and prosecutors will decide the next steps as the federal case moves forward.
