Illinois Man Arrested on Federal Charges After Threat Against Hanukkah Celebration in Thousand Oaks

A man from Illinois was indicted for threatening to harm people at a Hanukkah celebration in Ventura County, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. 

A federal grand jury indicted 61-year-old Glen Benson from Onarga, Illinois, on charges of interstate communications with a threat to injure on January 6, 2026, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.  

A social media post advertised a Hanukkah celebration in the City of Thousand Oaks in December 2025. A statement was made in the comments section of the post threatening to harm the attendees of the event, the Sheriff’s Office’s said.

After being informed of the threat, the East County Investigations Bureau immediately took over the investigation and soon identified Benson as the suspect. 

Social Media Threats Lead to Arrest

https://t.co/BffmC5BXjz

— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) January 12, 2026

Following the federal indictment, Benson was arrested from Illinois on January 8, 2026, according to the statement. Currently, he remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. 

Out of abundance of caution, the Thousand Oaks Police Department was present at the Hanukkah event to ensure the security and safety of the attendees and allow the event to proceed as planned, the statement said.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detectives worked along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Springfield Field Office, Central District of Illinois, as the investigation expanded beyond California. 

State and local agencies often work along with the FBI as a common initiative to investigate and solve a case. Many task forces consisting of FBI agents and state and local officers have been formed to track and locate fugitives and address serious threats, like terrorism and street violence, according to the FBI.

Authorities emphasized that an indictment is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The Sheriff’s Office reiterated its commitment to protecting the community and said that all threats to public safety are treated seriously. Authorities protect the safety and security of the community by conducting thorough investigations into any credible threat of harm, the statement added.