TERRE HAUTE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Nicholas Wheeler, 27, with four counts of transmitting extortionate threats via interstate commerce and three counts of transmitting threats via interstate commerce.
According to the indictment and other court documents, on March 16th and March 17, 2024, Wheeler made violent threats over “X” (formerly Twitter) against Indiana State University, Indiana State University professors, and two of his former attorneys. Wheeler threatened that if the individuals did not give him $500,000 or investigate his claim that he was the victim of a crime, he was going to kill or injure them.
Some of Wheeler’s messages included threats such as, “I’m coming to take your souls… closed casket funerals,” and “empty your bank accounts, I’m coming for blood Indiana State University,” accompanied by posts claiming to own a loaded machine gun and body armor.
Wheeler attended Indiana State University from August 2018 through August 2023. At the time Wheeler sent the threats, he was living in California.
The FBI is investigating this case. If convicted of the most severe offense, Wheeler could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Oliver, who is prosecuting this case.
