Feds say former ISU student made violent threats

Apr. 16—A former Indiana State University student is facing federal charges of making violent threats via social media against the university, its officials and other people in Vigo County.

Nicholas Wheeler, 27, of Seaside, California, is in custody in California. He faces one count of transmitting an extortionate threat to kidnap or injure, as well as one count of transmitting a threat to kidnap or injure.

The maximum possible penalty on the first charge is 20 years in prison, and the maximum possible on the second is five years in prison.

Authorities said they seized six firearms from Wheeler's residence, and one of those is thought to be the same firearm shown in one of his social media posts. The FBI also noted Wheeler was in possession of a pistol during a 2022 arrest in Indiana.

The case was first reported Tuesday by Nate Gartrell of the Bay Area News Group.

Court documents indicate the ISU Police Department on March 19 asked the FBI for help regarding Wheeler "making threats against the university, professors, attorneys, judges and several other individuals," according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Indianapolis-based FBI Special Agent Jacob A. Overton.

The same document also notes the Terre Haute Police Department on March 19 obtained an emergency ping on Wheeler's home, placing it at his residence in Seaside.

Wheeler was taken into custody at his home March 20 after a welfare check by Presidio of Monterey Police Department officers. He initially was held on a 72-hour assessment under California's welfare code, according to an affidavit. A federal arrest warrant was issued March 22.

Wheeler, according to the FBI's probable cause affidavit, is a former ISU student who studied in the school's flight program.

The threatening posts on his X account (formerly Twitter) began on or about March 14 and continued through March 19, authorities say. Among such posts on Wheeler's account, according to the probable cause filing:

* "I have a fully loaded 200 round MG-M2 machine gun. An uzi, an ar15, and a few glocks. I'm gonna have revenge. I went ahead and bought level 4 body armor and a bullet proof helmet."

* "Save all my tweets. I'll be on the news in 72 hours if I don't get my money. My professors paid someone 50k to have me raped and castrated in my apartment to make me unfit for flight. They even locked me out of the flight academy at Indiana state university."

* "I wish I didn't have to do what I'm gonna be doing. I told these people to apologize and give me money. They wouldn't do it. So I'm coming back to Indiana for the last time. I am going to go beserk. Last chance 500k send it."

At least one of the posts also contains a racial pejorative and others referenced the home and family members of a Vigo County attorney, according to the probable cause affidavit. Another included a reference to a judge, and another the names of local police officers.

One victim also reported receiving a text message in which Wheeler demanded $500,000, the FBI agent wrote.

At Wheeler's most recent hearing, lawyers confirmed he has a psychological evaluation scheduled for later this week, the Bay Area News Group reported.

He remains jailed without bond pending transfer to Indiana. Court documents indicate he has waived an identity hearing and a preliminary hearing.

Wheeler's 2022 arrest in Indiana referenced in the federal court affidavit appears to be a Sept. 16, 2022, incident in which West Terre Haute police booked Wheeler on two misdemeanor counts: operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated/endangerment.

Indiana court records indicated he pleaded guilty to the lesser included charge of public intoxication in November of 2022 in Vigo Superior Court 5. He was sentenced to 180 days jail, with credit for one day served and one day good-time credit; 178 days were suspended. He also was placed on probation and ordered to perform 120 days community service.

Efforts to reach Indiana State and Southern District of Indiana U.S. attorney's spokespeople on Tuesday afternoon or evening were not successful.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Verrell L. Fuller of the San Jose office is currently representing Wheeler. He had no comment.

Contact Mark Fitton at 812-231-4333 or mark.fitton@tribstar.com.