A 51-year-old man from Barnegat, New Jersey, has been arrested and charged after allegedly vandalizing the Newark office of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba on Nov. 12, 2025. Authorities say Keith Michael Lisa entered the federal building with an aluminum bat, left, then returned and damaged items in the reception area while making threats. The FBI identified him, warned he should be considered dangerous, and he was captured on Nov. 15 during a coordinated effort by federal and state agencies. He appeared before a magistrate judge and is now detained on federal charges.
New Jersey Man Arrested After Alleged Vandalism and Threats at U.S. Attorney Alina Habba’s Newark Office
A 51-year-old man from Barnegat, New Jersey, has been arrested and charged after allegedly vandalizing the Newark office of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba on Nov. 12, 2025. Authorities say Keith Michael Lisa entered the federal building with an aluminum bat, left, then returned and damaged items in the reception area while making threats. The FBI identified him, warned he should be considered dangerous, and he was captured on Nov. 15 during a coordinated effort by federal and state agencies. He appeared before a magistrate judge and is now detained on federal charges.
08:09 AM, 11/19/2025Security
Federal prosecutors say a 51-year-old man from Barnegat, New Jersey, has been arrested and charged after allegedly vandalizing the Newark office of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. Authorities say the incident occurred at the Peter Rodino Federal Building on Nov. 12, 2025, and culminated in a coordinated arrest over the weekend.
Incident at the Federal Building
Prosecutors identified the suspect as Keith Michael Lisa. According to the Justice Department, Lisa entered the Peter Rodino Federal Building shortly before 5 p.m. carrying a full-sized aluminum baseball bat. When informed by security that the bat was a prohibited item, he left the building but returned minutes later without the bat.
Witnesses told investigators Lisa appeared agitated and was "mumbling" as he passed through security. Once inside the U.S. Attorney’s Office reception area, he allegedly threatened to "tear the place up" and knocked framed items from the walls, damaging property in the reception area.
Search and Arrest
After law enforcement began searching for him, prosecutors say Lisa went into hiding. The FBI publicly identified him the day before his arrest, describing him as about 6-foot-3 and weighing between 200 and 230 pounds, with ties to New York City and Mahwah, New Jersey. The agency warned the public he "should be considered dangerous" and urged anyone with information to contact authorities.
Lisa was arrested in the early morning hours of Nov. 15 after what officials described as a coordinated, statewide effort involving the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Protective Service, New Jersey State Police and local police departments. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge José Almonte in Newark and was detained.
Attorney General Pam Bondi: "No one will get away with threatening or intimidating our great U.S. Attorneys or the destruction of their offices. The suspect is now in custody."
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba: "We got him. This Justice Department and our federal partners will not tolerate acts of intimidation or violence toward law enforcement. Now justice will handle him."
Prosecutors charged Lisa with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and depredation of federal property. The case remains under federal investigation.