Suspected neo-Nazi who came to Texas with assault weapons pleads guilty to gun charge
A suspected neo-Nazi who federal agents say came to Texas last year with assault weapons has pleaded guilty to a federal gun crime.
A video released Monday by federal court officials showed Aiden Bruce-Umbaugh tell agents in November, “I assume you’re here because of my swastika flag and my firearms.”
In propaganda material also released Monday by federal court officials, videos depict members of the Atomwaffen Division at self-described “hate camps” practicing hand-to-hand combat and shooting firearms.
“Race war now!” they cry, before one displays a Nazi salute, according to federal authorities.
Bruce-Umbaugh, 23, of Olympia, Washington, pleaded guilty last month to possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person.
The Washington man, who faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23.
Federal authorities believe Bruce-Umbaugh is a member of Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi hate group.
The Washington man, who has been in custody since November, had previously entered a not guilty plea.
Texas is one of several states with known Atomwaffen Division cells, according to King 5 News in Seattle.
Bruce-Umbaugh was arrested Nov. 4 in Post, Texas — about 40 miles southeast of Lubbock — during a traffic stop following an investigation by the FBI.
Inside of the vehicle, authorities found an AR-15 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, a Sig Sauer 9 mm pistol, at least 1,500 rounds of ammunition, a small canister of marijuana and approximately two grams of THC oil.
“The large amount of weapons and ammunition seized from the defendant is alarming, and we understand there is a cause for concern,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the Dallas field office in a November news release. “We want to reassure the public that swift action was taken to remove weapons from a dangerous individual.”
At the time of the traffic stop, Bruce-Umbaugh and Kaleb Cole were apparently traveling from Washington to Houston to meet with friends, according to court documents.
Cole was driving a Ford Focus, while Bruce-Umbaugh was a passenger, according to federal court documents.
Bruce-Umbaugh avoided eye contact with authorities and denied having anything illegal inside of the vehicle, but he later admitted the weapons, marijuana and THC belonged to him, according to court documents.
In jailhouse phone calls, the Washington man allegedly referenced his affiliation with the hate group and discussed a photo taken of him and another Atomwaffen Division member at the Auschwitz concentration camp, according to federal prosecutors in a detention hearing.
No charges have been filed against Cole.
King 5 News had exposed the violent hate group in recent stories, saying Cole had been barred from possessing firearms because of an extreme risk protection order issued in October that required him to surrender all firearms.
Cole also was dressed in combat/tactical attire during the traffic stop in Texas earlier this month, according to court documents.
This report contains information from Star-Telegram archives.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 4:46 PM.
