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Department of Justice
Richard Schmidt
Federal agents are trying to determine how a suspected Ohio white supremacist with a felony conviction for manslaughter acquired a cache of 18 assault weapons and other firearms, along with high-capacity magazines and more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition, according to federal law enforcement officials and court documents reviewed by NBC News.
The storehouse of weapons was discovered late last month when FBI agents arrested Richard Schmidt, 47, the owner of a Bowling Green sporting goods store called Spindletop Sports Zone, on charges of marketing counterfeit goods -- such as football jerseys with NFL logos -- from China.
Although initially portrayed as a probe into the thriving international market for counterfeit clothing, the case took a surprising turn this week when the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cleveland unsealed search warrants and an indictment also charging Schmidt with illegal possession of firearms.
According to the documents, FBI agents who searched Schmidt’s sporting goods store and four trailers behind it, found a stash of weapons that included AR-15 assault rifles, Ruger and Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistols, bulletproof body armor and high-capacity magazines as well as ammunition.
The agents also discovered evidence of Schmidt’s ties to the neo-Nazi movement, documents show. Among the evidence seized, according to search warrants, was a video of a national convention of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement; bumper stickers of the National Alliance party, another neo-Nazi group; a “Jewish 500” list -- a supposed roster of Jewish-owned businesses -- and paraphernalia from the “Waffen SS,” Adolph Hitler’s Nazi military force in Germany from the early 1930s through World War II, according to the search warrants.
A federal law enforcement official, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity, said that FBI counterterrorism agents involved in the case had picked up evidence that Schmidt may have been planning attacks against Jewish and civil rights groups in the Detroit area. “This is an active investigation,” said another federal law enforcement official when asked if Schmidt was believed to have been working with any others in the neo-Nazi movement.
In the indictment unsealed this week, Schmidt was charged with three counts of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and body armor and one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Schmidt’s lawyer, federal public defender Andy Hart, did not respond to a request for comment.
The law enforcement officials said the case appears to illustrate some of the gaps in current background checks for gun purchasers that President Barack Obama has proposed closing as part of his package of executive actions and legislative proposals released this week aimed at curbing gun violence. Schmidt was charged with murder and felonious assault in 1989 after killing a Hispanic man and shooting two others with a semi-automatic pistol during a traffic dispute. He later pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison. Federal officials were not immediately able to provide information on when he was released from prison.
Despite a federal law that prohibits convicted felons from buying firearms, Schmidt was still able to acquire his stockpile – though authorities don’t yet know how he acquired them. Federal agents have been trying for weeks to trace the weapons, but officials said they have so far made little progress. This could indicate that Schmidt purchased his weapons from private dealers or gun shows, where background checks are currently not required, one official said. But he also could have obtained them on the black market.
“It is deeply troubling that law enforcement found this man, with a prior homicide conviction, in possession of an arsenal,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, the U.S. attorney for Cleveland.
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Mark Potok, who tracks hate groups for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the group had found an entry that appeared to be from Schmidt on a neo-Nazi website several years ago, using the Yahoo profile of “Vinlander 101” and declaring his plans to set up a “historical preservation” group. (One of the trailers behind Schmidt’s sporting goods store was registered to the “Vinland Preservation League” -- a now defunct nonprofit.) He noted that the use of the word “Vinland” was likely inspired by the “Vinland Social Club,” a now largely dormant neo-Nazi skinhead group that emphasized the early Vikings role in colonizing the American continent.
“The sad reality is there are people around this country who are building up enormous arsenals of weapons because they think the end is coming -- either a race war, or the new world order … or some other form of apocalypse,” he said.
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Leave a Comment:
Oh no, ma, they's a comin' to git mah guns!
Another happy go lucky white supremacist gun nut, living life to its fullest.
Well he could be living his life to the fullest trying to take your rights away just because you are doing something that he don't like or is afraid of, you know what I mean? he could be an ignorant lib like you!!!!!!
gaad bless duh nra and all the freedumbs they support
Yeah grampa they do support freedoms, to bad morons like you are not smart enough to see that a constitutional right is more important than anything else in this country including you!!!!!
Imagine that,a criminal who breaks the law.
This is conclusive evidence that what we need are more laws for him to break.
You could ban all sales of firearms in this country and the guns will flow up from Mexico,just like the drugs that we cant stop,and they will be the auto m16s that we sent to arm their Mexican troops.This clown will still get his guns and regular people will be out of luck.Criminals dont obey laws,even Obamas laws.
If it makes everybody feel better to wail about checks and gunshow loopholes,knock yourself out,they'll still be killing each other in Chicago and Detroit,the drug wars will go on and all you will get more hysterics from the gun ban crowd.
PS Herron....kiss my A$$
maybe all who are so irrational at protect the 2nd ammendment should have a shootout??
let's finish this right now u pussies...
..meanwhile kids are dying needlessly...and innocent ppl
we will make it like the dirty west..5 count turn around and shoot
..i could only wish u stupid fuks would see the logic, but you wouldn't stand up for your own morals..
half of you would be dead ;)
March 2007
25 years ago, the small town of Kennesaw, GA unanimously passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Since then, despite dire predictions of “Wild West” showdowns and increased violence and accidents, not a single resident has been involved in a fatal shooting – as a victim, attacker or defender.
Don't confuse cincyboy with facts. He hates facts. They so get in the way of his arguments.
You are a moron, firearms make up less than 1% of all of the deaths in the USA and of those many are self defense, police actions, and suicide. The number of murders done with firearms has gone down by 50% over the past five years even though the amount of firearms owned in the USA has more than doubled.
Quit being such in ignorant person and do some actual research..... If you did you might realize that more people are saved with firearms than killed by them, but I know you libs are not that intelligent you only repeat what you are told......
And here is another neo-Nazi in possession of firearms and not arrested: AJ Dicken... search his name on Google and read the Cryptome .org post
Too much trouble. I can't be bothered.
and if it was my challenge, 90% of u would be dead
Wow. Wishing other people dead is a sign of some serious mental instability.
So, cincyboy, how bad does it really suck to be you? Hugely, I bet.
these pussy right wing republicans who have no idea what is going on in real world or any sense of reality.... want to scare americans into have assault weapons.
they know they we are take them out with one shot pistol while they need 50 rounds auto to stand a chance ;)
Bully 101: Come out with a visceral verbal attack that degrades the opponent with name calling and illogical references to their character.
i call it how it is..i could really care less about forum rules....and u for that matter
cincy- Just keep it up. You only prove to everyone else how petty, immature, and ignorant you are. You sound like a young teenager who is mad cause daddy took the game station away.
You already blew your chance at being listened to when you said you wish 90% of people out there were dead. Times must be tough at junior high.
lol. it's amazing to watch republicans rant...
that @!$%# from NRA David Keene should have been shot from his own ppl..much d
ignorants rants by right wing republicans?
i wish i could help u all see truth..but u won't
it would save me alot of time dispose of u
You read like a man with no heart, no brain and no courage. Better head on down and see The Wizard.
You couldn't hit the broad side of a 747 aircraft hanger from five yards with a rock, cincyboy.
Let us remember that the patriotic folks over the NRA referred to ATF and other Federal agents after Ruby Ridge and the nightmare at Waco as "Jack Booted Thugs". How's that for standing up for "law and order" which supposedly the Right is so obsessed with. Now you know what the NRA resists AND & ALL regulation of gun sales, even when they wind up in the hands of the bad guys. Cause in their mind, anyone who's packing can't be all bad, regardless of of how many homicides they've committed. If you've got a small arsenal in your basement, you're a true blue patriot. If you support the creation of some sane gun regulations then you must be a hater of the Constitution and a "gun grabber", the favorite line of the gun crazies.
More proof, this country has a major people problem, crooks, robbers, liers, gangs and the list goes on. This guy some kind of nut case.
Every one of these gun threads is filled with NRA shills who are paid to derail the discussion.
He's probably the fall guy for fast and furious.
any dick that needs an assault weapon in this country is a republican. or has a small penis..take yur pick
i dare u prove us wrong...
Tactics of a bully
Excellent. He apparently knows first hand.
He had to look up the word "microphallus" to understand what his urologist told him about his condition. Troll with microphallus! What a combination!
cincyboytoy, if you ask nicely, maybe i'll let you play with my "gun"...you'd like that, wouldn't you?!
Congratulations to all the geniuses. The Governor of New York State, President Obama and any other Politician who actually think guns will not be obtained by criminals. The decent taxpaying honest gun owner thanks everyone who under the guise of a lynch mob are chipping away at your Freedoms. You think the insane maniac that killed the 26 in Newtown gave a ratz arse about laws? You think the insane bstrd who entered the Theatre in Aurora gave a ratz arse about Laws. You're in denial folks. The Anti-NRA, Anti-Gun people are nothing but a modern day lynch mob who cares not who they hang, as long as they taste blood. Good luck with your Laws Folks.
Yeah, is Gov Cuomo going to pass another freaking law for New Yorkers because the state of OHIO can't keep guns under better control in OHIO.
Sick Of The Lies Here - I think a better screen name would be "SICK HERE". Please, someone put this miserable anti-semetic, racist psycho out of his misery.
Although Schmidt and others are buying these guns and storing the weaponry with the belief of some doomsday world event with a bunch of very powerful people taking over our rights. Or worse yet disbanding our Constitution. Problem is, these guys are the problem , they are so afraid of. The NRA has bullied this country into a bunch packing idiots. They have used fear to divide and conquer. What they are doing now is not much different than what the brown shirters did to Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s. And like the brown shirters it was always done in the name of God, country and future of our children. I really wonder where a group's allegiances lie when they illegally store arms and ammunition for a future war, when they would be wise to spend their energies preventing such a war
There are gun/rifle collectors small and large, a few to dozens if not hundreds at some homes. Now do you think they keep records of who they sell them to on the used gun/rifle market, or even give them to as gifts if they want to do that? Would be interesting to see an estimate on how many thousands of guns/rifles are sold each year just like selling your personal used car, which of course we do know who buys it due to Title changes and registration at the DMVs. Unless a state has rules on this, it is like selling your used TV to someone I would guess. So add those between individuals sales/gifts from relatives or friends to the ones not having background checks nor probably even any record if they pay in cash. In fact one talk show had an investigator saying some retailers sale dozens of guns in one sell to some individuals, no limits - and you can bet they are going to either sell those at home or their "club" or give them away....
Dowhatisright76 - The entire "gun show loophole" is a myth? Can you not read man? The loophole is more than just a hole - it is a hole the size of a football field. Since there are no consistent laws ANYONE, ANYWHERE can get any amount of any guns they want. Boy, I was skeptical of "paid internet trolls" but now I'm not so sure.
The loophole refers to private sales just like selling your car directly to someone else. I have not seen any proof that people walk out of gun shows with a truckload of guns without background checks. If such proof exists than please point it out.
There was a documentary showing the gun show buying ease by a group including one of the wounded victims at a past mass shooting, think it was at the Congresswoman meeting in Tucson. This documentary and that victim, a young man in his 20's, showed how easy it was to get any type of weapon some private/nonretail seller had on his display. The guy with him hid a camera in a carrying case with audio on it, he asked the seller how much info he needed and the guy said just show me your ID and that was about it. He said something like "I probably couldn't even get it if I had a full background check" and the seller said no problem, forget about it and sold him a 9 mm handgun I think with 30 round magazine.
@!$%# this all
i will start my own laws enforce them..i will call it the mob,,,get ready u dumb @!$%#ers
u ppl are pathetic
Cincy- You need some professional help. Please for your own good and that of anyone who cares about you get some help in dealing with your anger issues.
In the meantime maybe law enforcement should have a talk with you.
yea, you should maybe move to your happy place for a while. sweet dreams
wow?
because i am speak what i think and you don't agree with me?
i need help by psychiatrist?
or i need help by police?
And the law should talk to you too, Dowhatisrighteous,,
You won't do jack squat, cincyboy! Nada! Zip! You're an impotent little troll boy, and that's it, so why don't you just STFU and GTFOH, and go back to your fifth or sixth iteration of your daily compulsive masturbation in your mommy's basement.
Most people who post in this just want to use nasty words and call other people names just like you do mymomdid not raiseafool I think she did!!
Up yours, O Danny Boy! Aren't a couple of pipes calling you? Go, therefore, and play them, as you do so well.
If you are willing to pay and know anyone that works for a arms manufacturer or owns a gun store you can't buy a gun with out a back ground check There are ways to get around it. I have seen illegal ammo that had been bought from some dealer by some one that wasn't a cop the box was plainly marked for law enforcement only !!
get out while u can....this website is a joke
Nowhere near as big a joke as you and your forebears, zippytoy.
Doesn't his shirt say it all.
So, let's examine this.....we are building an arsenal, and have documented plots to kill blacks and Jews......so we hide them in trailers behind a store we own, where we sell.....counterfeit merchandise. Why didn't he just sell heroin out of the store, while he was at it? I disagree.....this one isn't a psycho.....he's just a redneck moron.....and trust me, there are MANY more of those than we actually need in this country...
you idiot right wing republicans need step down...u are ruining any chance if any re-election
you failed yur party, u are all hypocrites...u dont stand a chance anymore..
be honest to yurself dude
Wy doan yu lurn to spel, chimpyboy?
This is a PERFECT example of just WHY a gun ban WILL NOT WORK. Thanks for nothing liberals.
Doesn't this show the obama admidastration that gun control doesn't work for the felons or the gangs If not they need to wake up; Don't you the american people think or do we need to get some one smarter in the white house and a new vice President!!!!
Dan: Unfortunately for you, you'll have to wait for 4 years to get rid of Obama/Biden. As far as gun control not working, I'd say that there are lots of things that are worth trying in the pursuit of reducing gun-related violence, not all of which could be labeled as "gun control" per se. Are you saying that the Richard Schmidts of the world are bound to accumulate their arsenals, and we should just forget about trying to stop that?
Cagey -
Actually, this shows that LAW enforcement sometimes works. This guy is going to serve far more time for those federal firearm vilations than he did for killing someone.
More laws? Better enforcement and penalties!