Two men from South Carolina have admitted guilt in a federal court to hate crimes and other charges related to racially-motivated armed robberies targeting Hispanic individuals. Charles Antonio Clippard, 27, and Michael Joseph Knox, 29, both residents of Columbia, confessed to their involvement in several incidents that occurred between January and February 2021.
Court documents reveal that the defendants conspired to identify and rob individuals they perceived as Mexican or Hispanic at public places such as gas stations and grocery stores. The victims were chosen based on their race and national origin. Among the incidents admitted by Clippard and Knox was a robbery on January 22, 2021, where they followed victims from a grocery store to their home before robbing them at gunpoint. Another incident on January 30 involved carjacking a Hispanic victim after trailing him from a gas station.
The pair pleaded guilty to three hate crime charges, one count of carjacking, one count of conspiracy, and two firearms charges. Their co-conspirators, Gabriel Brunson and Sierra Fletcher, had previously entered guilty pleas for similar offenses.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of legal protection for all individuals regardless of race or national origin: “Every person...is entitled to the full protection of the law.” U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs highlighted the message against bias-based crimes: “We will not tolerate bias-based crimes in South Carolina.”
FBI Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough stated that violence stemming from hate would not be tolerated: “The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the Constitution.” Special Agent Steve Jensen remarked on the impact of these crimes on victims within the Hispanic community: “These criminal acts have no place in our society.”
The defendants face significant penalties including a mandatory minimum sentence for firearms offenses and potential maximum sentences for each hate crime charge. Restitution payments are also required as part of their plea agreements.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the FBI Columbia Field Office with support from local law enforcement departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Garner and E. Elizabeth Major along with Trial Attorneys Katherine McCallister and Andrew Manns.