(ConservativeHub.com) – A federal grand jury has indicted a man for selling firearms to further an alleged scheme to carry out a mass shooting. He is accused of planning to use the incident to ignite a race war before the 2024 Presidential election.
According to a press release published on June 11 by the U.S. attorney’s office in Arizona, 58-year-old Mark Adams Prieto was officially charged with transferring a firearm for use in a hate crime, possession of an unregistered firearm, and firearms trafficking.
Prieto allegedly began discussing his plans with two individuals, who he thought shared his racist ideologies but worked for the FBI. According to the press release, he planned to carry out a “mass shooting” targeting Black Americans and other minorities, inciting a race war before November’s election.
Prieto was allegedly going to carry out his mass shooting plan at a concert in Atlanta on May 14 and May 15, but he was intercepted by law enforcement en route.
The press release stated that in preparation for his plans, Prieto sold two rifles. He allegedly sold an AK-style rifle in February and an AR-style rifle in March.
Throughout the investigation, the FBI closely monitored the 58-year-old’s movements, which led to him being stopped by law enforcement and taken into custody.
Prieto was stopped while traveling through New Mexico on May 14. It’s reported that he had seven firearms in his possession at the time.
Following his arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant on his Arizona home, uncovering more guns, including one unregistered rifle.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office in Arizona, possession of an unregistered firearm has a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a $250,000 penalty, or both, while the transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime and firearms trafficking each carry a maximum 15-year prison sentence and/or a $250,000 fine.
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