The self-described white supremacist behind a disturbing plot to blow up a historic Colorado synagogue will spend nearly two decades behind bars for his “vulgar” and “evil crimes,” a federal judge ruled Friday. Richard Holzer, 28, told a team of undercover FBI agents in November 2019 that he was going to bomb Temple Emanuel in the city of Pueblo, saying his goal was to wipe the synagogue “off the map,” according to prosecutors. The attack was foiled hours before it was set to take place as authorities busted Holzer with two pipe bombs and 14 sticks of dynamite, all phony devices provided by the FBI as part of an undercover investigation that year. Holzer, who told agents he was a former KKK member, pleaded guilty last fall to federal hate crime and explosives charges and faced a judge for the last time Friday before heading to prison. “It is one of the most vulgar, aggressive, evil crimes that can be committed against an entire group of persons,” Judge Raymond Moore told the man before sentencing him to 235 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, according to The Associated Press. This booking photo provided by the El Paso County, Colo., Sheriff’s Office shows Richard Holzer, who was arrested on Nov. 1, 2019. (AP)
The avowed Neo-Nazi and skinhead promoted his anti-Semitic, racist and violent beliefs through several Facebook accounts and online chats that were monitored by federal authorities. In conversations with undercover agents, he would often send pictures of himself holding automatic weapons while talking about “getting ready for RAHOWA,” a racial holy war, prosecutors have said. Holzer unknowingly communicated with the FBI for months, openly discussing his hatred of Jewish people and how he wanted to do something to show them they were not welcome in his town, according to the agency.
via nydailynews: White supremacist who planned to bomb Colorado synagogue gets nearly 20 years in prison in ‘domestic terrorism’ case
siehe auch: Southern Colorado Man Sentenced To More Than 19 Years In Federal Prison For Plotting To Blow Up Synagogue
Defendant planned to carry out act of domestic terrorism. DENVER – A Colorado man was sentenced today in federal court in Denver for plotting to blow up a synagogue. Richard Holzer, 28, was sentenced to more than 19 years (235 months) in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Holzer previously pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and explosives charges for plotting to blow up the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado, conduct that constituted acts of domestic terrorism. Holzer told undercover FBI agents that he wanted the bombing to send a message to Jewish people that they must leave his town, “otherwise people will die.” Holzer pleaded guilty to intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs, through force and the attempted use of explosives and fire, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 247, and to attempting to maliciously damage and destroy, by means of fire and explosives, a building used in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code, Section 844(i). “The Department has combatted hate-based violent extremism and domestic terrorism since our inception,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General John Carlin. “Today there is no higher priority. This sentencing serves as a reminder that these crimes will not be tolerated, and we will hold the individuals who engage in them fully accountable. From our Civil Rights Division, our National Security Division, and the FBI, to the Office for Victims of Crime and our Community Relations Service, the Department of Justice will use every tool at its disposal to identify, disrupt, deter, and prevent hate-based, extremist threats to members of the American public.”