Scott M. Hanna of Miami Township has admitted in federal court that he was behind an online post claiming he was “organizing mobs” to kill people in Cincinnati and aiming to “kill 30k” by the weekend. Prosecutors say the message was aimed at Black residents and triggered a federal investigation. Court records show his June 29 guilty plea covers one count of making interstate threats.
According to the Dayton Daily News, Hanna entered the plea on June 29. U.S. District Judge Michael Newman has not yet decided whether to accept or reject it. The filing ties the federal charge to a social media post that prosecutors say crossed state lines.
What Investigators Say
Cincinnati police shared a screenshot of the post with the FBI Cincinnati Joint Terrorism Task Force on July 31, 2025, according to the criminal complaint, as reported by WCPO.
Earlier Run-ins And City Response
Court records and earlier reporting describe violent encounters between Hanna and law enforcement long before the threat went viral. In September 2024, officers say he swung a full-sized sword at another person’s neck, causing what appeared to be a partial decapitation. He later told a detective he would cut off someone’s head if charges were not brought.
The online threats and the spread of the social media post prompted a large, very public law-enforcement presence in Cincinnati. Gov. Mike DeWine offered state support, and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers backed up local police, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Legal Implications
Federal law makes it a crime to send threats through interstate commerce, including over the internet. A Congressional Research Service overview on congress.gov notes that 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) allows for fines and up to five years in prison for threats to injure or kidnap another person. Related statutes have been used to prosecute online threats and hoaxes.
What Comes Next
If Judge Newman accepts Hanna’s plea, the case will move to sentencing. As of the latest filings, that decision had not yet been made.
The FBI has been clear about how it treats messages like the one Hanna admitted posting. “The FBI aggressively investigates those who threaten our communities with violence,” Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola said, according to WCPO.
Hoodline first covered the case last year when federal agents arrested Hanna. See our earlier reporting on the FBI arrest over “30k” threat for background on the complaint and initial response.
