Current:Home > MyMinnesota man accused of assembling an arsenal to attack police is sentenced to nearly 7 years-LoTradeCoin
Minnesota man accused of assembling an arsenal to attack police is sentenced to nearly 7 years
View Date:2024-12-23 20:59:39
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man who was accused of assembling an arsenal of illegal weapons to use against police has been sentenced to nearly seven years in federal prison.
River William Smith, 21, of the Minneapolis suburb of Savage, pleaded guilty last May to one count of possession of a machine gun — specifically devices to convert guns to fully automatic fire. He was also accused of attempting to possess unregistered hand grenades. He paid an FBI informant $690 for four “auto sear” devices and three dummy grenades, prosecutors alleged.
Federal prosecutors say Smith idolized mass shooters, while his defense attorney countered that the government’s accusations were wildly exaggerated.
“When a defendant tells us how dangerous he is, we should listen,” prosecutor Andrew Winter told U.S. District Judge David Doty on Tuesday. “When he tells us he is full of rage, full of hate, enjoys watching people get shot, we should take notice.”
But defense attorney Jordan Kushner argued this was a “run-of-the-mill firearms case” involving someone who had not ever harmed anyone.
“There isn’t any evidence the FBI caught a mass shooter,” Kushner told the court. “Frankly, it’s a fantasy on their part.”
Smith said in a court filing this week that his statements to government informants and in his recorded jail calls to his family were not serious.
“I was desperate for a friend, and wanted to impress him,” he said. “I regret and am embarrassed by many of my statements to the FBI informants, but they were mostly untrue.”
According to court documents and FBI Special Agent Mark’s previous testimony, Smith had expressed interest in joining neo-Nazi paramilitary groups; called himself “pro mass shooting in general,” called the person who killed five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado in November 2022 a “hero;" expressed sympathy for the shooter who killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018; described Black people as “agents of Satan” and expressed hatred of Jews. The agent said Smith carried a note cursing police inside his body armor so they could find it after his death.
Authorities began investigating after getting a call from a retired police officer who was working at a gun range Smith frequented. He told them he was concerned because of how Smith practiced shooting from behind barriers while wearing heavy body armor and conducting rapid reloading drills.
“I do not deny having anger at the government, but my venting allows me to express my feelings and not end up feeling a need to carry out any acts of violence,” Smith countered in his filing.
Judge Doty rejected the government’s request for the maximum allowable sentence of 10 years, but called Smith’s behavior “egregious given the number of weapons and large amount of ammunition” the FBI seized. Doty added that Smith’s actions were aggravated by his lack of remorse and acceptance of responsibility and his “chilling promises to reoffend.”
Kushner said after the hearing that Smith plans to appeal the sentence.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Manhattan rooftop fire sends plumes of dark smoke into skyline
- Stock market today: Asian shares weaken while Japan reports economy grew less than expected
- Lainey Wilson leads CMA Awards 2023 nominations: See full list
- Black churches in Florida buck DeSantis: 'Our churches will teach our own history.'
- Shocked South Carolina woman walks into bathroom only to find python behind toilet
- Trial for ex-Baltimore prosecutor is moved outside the city due to potential juror bias, judge says
- As more children die from fentanyl, some prosecutors are charging their parents with murder
- Black churches in Florida buck DeSantis: 'Our churches will teach our own history.'
- Tennessee fugitive accused of killing a man and lying about a bear chase is caught in South Carolina
- OSU, WSU ask court to prevent departing Pac-12 schools from standing in way of rebuilding conference
Ranking
- Britney Spears Reunites With Son Jayden Federline After His Move to Hawaii
- Rail operator fined 6.7 million pounds in Scottish train crash that killed 3
- Jimmy Fallon reportedly apologizes to Tonight Show staff after allegations of toxic workplace
- Philadelphia officer who shot man in his car surrenders to police
- Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
- Wynonna Judd to Receive Country Champion Award at 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards
- Man pleads guilty to charges stemming from human remains trade tied to Harvard Medical School
- Chiefs star Chris Jones watches opener vs. Lions in suite amid contract holdout
Recommendation
-
Tesla Cybertruck modifications upgrade EV to a sci-fi police vehicle
-
Pelosi says she’ll run for reelection in 2024 as Democrats try to win back House majority
-
Taco Bell brings back Rolled Chicken Tacos, adds Chicken Enchilada Burrito, too
-
Disney temporarily lowers price of Disney+ subscription to $1.99
-
'Dangerous and unsanitary' conditions at Georgia jail violate Constitution, feds say
-
What is the Blue Zones diet blowing up on Netflix? People who live to 100 eat this way.
-
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Newborn Baby's Name and Sex Revealed
-
Trump back on the campaign trail after long absence, Hurricane Lee grows: 5 Things podcast