Sixteen members of a Florida white supremacist group, including two from Jacksonville and another from Orange Park, have been indicted on charges of assault, kidnapping and other violent crimes as part of a racketeering scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The 19-page indictment also said those 16 members and associates of the group Unforgiven also tried to use corrupt law enforcement officers and state employees to gather information about the investigation and impending prosecution of its members and more.
"The indictment charges each of the 16 defendants with committing at least one violent act in aid of Unforgiven, including kidnappings, conspiracies to commit assault, threats of violence and assaults with deadly weapons," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
One charge involves assaulting protesters at a Peace Walk for Black Lives on June 5, 2020.
In 2018 a long-term federal investigation dubbed “Operation Blackjack” saw 39 members of Unforgiven and The United Aryan Brotherhood charged with various federal firearms and drug violations in Pasco County, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Capitol riot:Florida emerges as a cradle of the insurrection as Jan. 6 attack arrests keep piling up
Local:'OK' sign at Jacksonville City Council meeting sparks look at white supremacist gestures
In other news:UNF Interfaith Center hosts candid conversation on antisemitism on campus after Passover Incident
The federal indictment, unsealed Thursday, said the Unforgiven wanted to propagate its Aryan philosophy and preserve and expand its power, territory and reputation through recruitment and indoctrination of white supremacist ideology.
It wanted to keep its rivals in fear of its members and associates "through threats and acts of violence" as well as enrich its members through the "distribution of weapons, narcotics and contraband," the indictment states.
Members were rebelling against a perceived "constant and almost brutal victimization of whites," the indictment said. The Unforgiven also protected its members by concealing or destroying evidence of any threats or retaliation against them, the indictment said.
Those indicted from Northeast Florida and their charges
• Ryan McLaughlin, aka Pretty Boy, 35, Jacksonville, two counts of conspiracy to commit assault.
• William Walker, aka The Duke, 38, Jacksonville, conspiracy to commit assault.
• Ryann Howard, aka Auto, 39, Orange Park, two counts of conspiracy to commit assault.
• Levi Sharp, aka Sketch, 38, Satsuma, kidnapping and assault in the aid of racketeering.
• Joshua Williamson, aka Chain Gang, 36, Live Oak, assault in aid of racketeering.
Protests: Counter-protester denies inciting crowd at Jacksonville protest
Archives: UNF lifts suspension of white supremacist student, but campus ban still in effect
Members were required to study Aryan philosophy and commit acts of extreme violence as a prerequisite to membership. Members and associates had to be "battle-ready at all times" and promote a climate of fear in non- or non-conforming members through threats and acts of violence, the indictment said. And those who violated its constitution were labeled as traitors who would "be dealt with in the most extreme form."
The indictment said members and associates of the Unforgiven created a political branch called Route 21 to disguise the white supremacist roots of its political activity and attempted to smuggle contraband to jailed inmates as they tried to obstruct justice by tampering with witnesses by "intimidation, threats and acts of violence," the indictment said.
Mandated demonstrations of loyalty to the group included committing acts of violence that earned members "patches" — tattoos bearing a swastika, iron cross and S.S. lightning bolts.
Others indicted across Florida and their charges
• Steve Anderson, 28, Bristol, two counts of conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity.
• George Andrews II, aka Shrek, 51, Pensacola, assault in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering.
• Jarrett Arnold, aka Jit, 31, Zephyrhills, kidnapping in aid of racketeering activity and assault in aid of racketeering.
• Joshua Fisher, aka Hammer, 27, Brooksville, three counts of conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity, assault in aid of racketeering and kidnapping in aid of racketeering activity.
• Joshua Hall, aka K9, 42, Wildwood, kidnapping in aid of racketeering activity, assault in aid of racketeering.
• David Howell, 35, Loxahatchee, two counts of conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity and assault in aid of racketeering.
• Maverick Maher, aka Saxon, 39, Pensacola, four counts of conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity, threats of violence in aid of racketeering activity and threats of violence in aid of racketeering
• James Mapoles, aka Matt Mapoles and Matt Criston, 40, Panama City, three counts of conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering activity and threats of violence in aid of racketeering activity.
• Scott Marshall, aka Solo, 45, Port Richey, kidnapping in aid of racketeering activity and assault in aid of racketeering.
• Darrin Terranova, aka Nova, 51, Beverly Hills, conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering.
• Brandon Welch, aka Scumbag, 34, Milton, assault in aid of racketeering.
On the rise: 150 years into existence, Ku Klux Klan leaders say membership is rising
More:White supremacist propaganda spreading, anti-bias group says
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, St. Petersburg Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549
No comments:
Post a Comment