Federal prosecutors dropped a bombshell Tuesday, announcing charges against 15 individuals allegedly tied to an Antifa-linked network accused of coordinating efforts to disrupt federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
The indictment, laid out in a sprawling 94-page criminal complaint, paints a picture that goes far beyond protest. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, the defendants are accused of participating in an organized conspiracy designed to impede federal officers through intimidation, surveillance, threats, and, in some cases, alleged acts of violence.
Twelve of the fifteen suspects are already in custody.
At the center of the case is a group prosecutors identify as Direct Action Minnesota Network, or DAMN. Authorities describe the organization as a radical far-left activist network that allegedly functioned as a command center for anti-ICE operations throughout the Minneapolis area.
According to investigators, members relied heavily on encrypted Signal chats to coordinate activities in real time. Those communications allegedly included discussions about blocking roads, tracking federal vehicles, surveilling immigration officers, monitoring activity at the federal Whipple Building, and rapidly mobilizing activists whenever enforcement operations were underway.
Federal officials say this wasn’t spontaneous activism. They argue it was a coordinated campaign.
Prosecutors claim the group served as a central hub where participants exchanged intelligence, recruited volunteers, assigned roles, and planned actions aimed at interfering with immigration enforcement.
Several of the allegations are particularly striking.
Isaac Auman Sant is described by prosecutors as one of the key organizers. Investigators allege he coordinated meetings between anti-ICE groups, distributed shields and equipment for what participants allegedly called “direct actions,” and maintained a database of suspected federal immigration vehicles by tracking license plate information.
Authorities also claim Sant organized teams tasked with following federal officers.
According to the indictment, Sant personally followed an immigration officer from Minneapolis across state lines into Wisconsin, resulting in an interstate stalking charge.
Another defendant, William Morgan, faces four separate charges. Prosecutors allege Morgan also followed a federal officer from Minneapolis to an area near the officer’s home in Hudson, Wisconsin.
But investigators say the alleged conduct didn’t stop there.
Three days later, Morgan allegedly confronted a federal agent during an interview, physically assaulted him, and later damaged a federal vehicle, causing approximately $1,000 in damage.
Meanwhile, Natasha Rakotz faces allegations that she drove her vehicle into the path of a federal agent, striking and injuring him. Prosecutors charged her with assault on a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and use of a dangerous weapon.
Then there is Kyle Wagner, who has already been in custody since February.
According to prosecutors, Wagner used social media to encourage violence against federal immigration officers. In one video cited by investigators, Wagner allegedly warned ICE agents, “We’re f—ing coming for you.”
Authorities say he encouraged supporters to arm themselves and suggested identifying federal agents “at the barrel of a gun.”
Additional charges against Wagner were announced during Tuesday’s press conference.
The case arrives amid heightened federal scrutiny of Antifa-related groups following President Donald Trump’s designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization last year. Federal officials were quick to emphasize, however, that the defendants are not being prosecuted for their political views.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Roden stressed that distinction repeatedly.
“Today’s charges and arrests reflect a broad federal effort to address organized, lawless behavior, which seeks to disrupt the execution of federal law, endanger law enforcement, and, importantly, endanger the very communities that these defendants falsely claim to be protecting,” Roden said.
He noted that speech, protest, and political expression remain protected under the First Amendment. The charges, he said, stem from alleged criminal conduct.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy echoed that message.
“Peaceful protest is a protected right and a cornerstone of our democracy,” McCarthy said. “However, there’s a clear line that cannot be crossed. When protest turns into rioting, violence, or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and it will not be tolerated.”
McCarthy said investigators spent months reviewing surveillance footage, conducting monitoring operations, and analyzing communications before bringing the case forward.
As the legal process unfolds, prosecutors will now have to prove their allegations in court. But if the government’s case holds up, the indictment could represent one of the largest and most consequential federal prosecutions involving organized anti-ICE activism and alleged Antifa-linked operations in recent years.
