A Michigan man was sentenced today to 26 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring with other members of a white supremacist group, The Base, to victimize Black and Jewish people, and for defacing Temple Jacob, a Jewish synagogue in Hancock, Michigan, using swastikas and symbols associated with The Base.
Nathan Weeden, 24, of Houghton, was convicted at trial in January of one count of conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate any person in the exercise of their rights and one count of intentionally defacing, damaging or destroying religious property because of the race or ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with that property. Weeden's co-conspirators, Richard Tobin of New Jersey and Yousef Barasneh of Wisconsin both previously pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges related to the incident.
“This sentence sends a strong message that threatening and intimidating people because of their religion, race or ethnic characteristics will not be tolerated in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “White supremacist-fueled violence is a stain on our history and perpetrators of such violence will be held accountable. No one should live in fear because of who they are, what they believe or where they worship. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who desecrate houses of worship and who conspire to intimidate people seeking to exercise the legal rights guaranteed to all Americans.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that hate will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan. “No one should be the target of hate because of their race, ethnicity, religion or any other status. When hateful words become hateful acts my office will use every tool we have to protect the public and secure justice like we did in this case.”
“Accountability matters. Today’s sentence is representative of our community's views on hate crime-inspired violence. People who engage in this behavior will be identified and fully prosecuted by the law,” said Special Agent in Charge James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division. “ATF is steadfast in its commitment to protecting everyone across this great state against violent criminals fueled by hatred and intolerance.”
The evidence at trial established that in September 2019 Weeden Tobin and Barasneh all members of The Base used an encrypted messaging platform to discuss vandalizing property associated with Black and Jewish Americans. Weeden and his co-conspirators dubbed their plan "Operation Kristallnacht" — a term that means "Night Of Broken Glass" referring to events that took place on Nov 9 And 10 1938 when Nazis murdered Jews burned synagogues schools places business homes destroyed them as well as destroyed places business homes synagogues schools businesses properties belonging Jews . Weeden carried out this plan on Sept 21 2019 when he spray-painted swastikas symbols associated The Base outside walls Temple Jacob .
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated case assistance from ATF Hancock Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler for Western District Michigan Trial Attorney Eric Peffley Civil Rights Division Criminal Section prosecuted case.
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