Seven years in prison for American neo-Nazis for campaigning to intimidate journalists and anti-racist activists

The former head of a small American neo-Nazi organization, the self-proclaimed “Atomwaffen Division”, was sentenced on Tuesday (11/01) to seven years in prison for participating in a campaign to intimidate journalists and anti-racism activists.

THE Caleb Cole, 25, together with three other members of the organization made posters depicting Nazi symbols and Molotov cocktails, which were then sent in January 2020 to the homes of several reporters, often of Jewish or minority descent, as well as anti-racist activist activists. US Department of Justice.

During his trial in federal court Seattle of USA In the autumn, victims described the consequences of this intimidation campaign: some were forced to move temporarily, others set up alarms, one bought a gun, some chose to change jobs – quit journalism, the ministry said.

His three accomplices Caleb Cole they preferred to enter into agreements with prosecutors, admitting their guilt in order to secure more lenient sentences.

One was sentenced to 3 years in prison, another 16 months in prison. Another member of the transgender group, who hid his identity from his former companions, decided not to go to prison, as he was judged to have had a rather difficult life.

A fifth member Nuclear Weapons Division, The John Denton, was sentenced in May to three years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of “threats” and “insult”.

He had participated in a special campaign «swatting», that is, malicious telephone calls intended to be sent to Special Forces (SWAT) units to intervene at target addresses.

This campaign of intimidation, which took place between October 2018 and February 2019, had 134 goals: African American church, Islamic center, journalists.

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