Minnesota Man Lied About Being Homeland Security Agent On TikTok

DODGE COUNTY, MN — Rey Reeves often shared details of his life as an agent for the Department of Homeland Security with his nearly 10,000 TikTok followers. But it was all a lie, according to federal authorities.

In reality, Rey Reeves was a pseudonym used by Reyel Devon Simmons, who was sentenced last week to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for impersonating a federal officer and possessing firearms as a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Minnesota.

On TikTok, Simmons’ profile photo showed him wearing law enforcement gear, a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. In his posts on the app, Simmons displayed police equipment, badges and guns, and referred to himself as a federal agent, according to the news release.

“At no time has Simmons ever been employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security,” said the news release, published after Thursday's sentencing. “Similarly, Simmons has never been a sworn law enforcement officer with any federal, state, or local agency, nor has he ever had the authority to act on behalf of any federal agency or department.”

Simmons, 53, of Dodge County, also carried a backpack with the department’s emblem that contained a Glock handgun and fake badge, the news release said. Authorities seized eight firearms from Simmons’ home, some of which were in a bunker through a hidden doorway in the basement, according to the news release.

Simmons also admitted to possessing unregistered silencers or suppressors, detonating cord containing the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate, a blasting cap, thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor with law enforcement emblems, and other police-style badges, clothing, bags and documents, the news release said. Because Simmons has a prior felony conviction in Colorado, he is prohibited from having firearms, ammunition or explosives, according to the news release.