58-year-old Mark Adams Prieto, of Prescott, Arizona, has been indicted on multiple charges is connection to firearms with the intent of carrying out a mass shooting.
Prieto has been charged with firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime, and possession of an unregistered firearm.
Documents note that Prieto had talks with two other people working with the FBI. This was to come up with a strategy to commit a mass shooting of African-Americans and other minorities. He did so in order to incite a race war before the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.
The Department of Justice thinks that they had the same racist thoughts as Prieto and wanted to commit a mass shooting to begin a race war.
The planned shooting was supposed to occur in Atlanta on May 14 and May 15.
Documents also note that Prieto sold two firearms to one of the individuals which was an AK-style rifle on Feb. 25 and an AR-style rifle on March 24.
As the investigation took place, the FBI closely looked at Prieto’s actions.
On May 14, Prieto was pulled over by authorities while driving from Arizona through New Mexico on Interstate 40. Prieto had seven guns in the vehicle and was placed into federal custody. After a search warrant was performed at his residence, more firearms were located, including an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
If he is found guilty of firearms trafficking and transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime, he could spend up to 15 years in prison and be made to pay a $250,000 fine or both. If he is found guilty of possession of an unregistered firearm, he could receive ten years in prison.
An investigation is continuing.
