Former Atomwaffen Division Leader Arrested for Swatting Conspiracy

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Department of Justice

U.S. Attorneys » Eastern District of Virginia » News

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Former Atomwaffen Division Leader Arrested for Swatting Conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former leader of the white supremacist group Atomwaffen Division was arrested today on charges related to his alleged role in a conspiracy that conducted multiple swatting events that occurred here in the Eastern District of Virginia.

John Cameron Denton, 26, of Montgomery, Texas, is allegedly a former leader of the Atomwaffen Division in Texas. Denton was arrested this morning in Montgomery and will make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. CST before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy K. Johnson at the federal courthouse in Houston.

According to court documents, from November 2018 to at least April 2019, Denton and several co-conspirators, including John William Kirby Kelley, allegedly conspired together to conduct “swatting” calls. Swatting is a harassment tactic that involves deceiving dispatchers into believing that a person or persons are in imminent danger of death or bodily harm and causing the dispatchers to send police and emergency services to an unwitting third party’s address.

According to court documents, Denton allegedly participated in a conspiracy that conducted three swatting calls that occurred here in the Eastern District of Virginia: a Cabinet official living in Northern Virginia on Jan. 27, 2019; Old Dominion University on Nov. 29, 2018; and Alfred Street Baptist Church on Nov. 3, 2018.

Additionally, Denton allegedly chose at least two other targets to “swat”: the New York City office of ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism; and an investigative journalist that produced materials for ProPublica. Denton allegedly chose the two targets because he was furious with ProPublica and the investigative journalist for publishing his true identity and discussing his role in Atomwaffen Division.

During the investigation, Denton unknowingly met with an undercover law enforcement officer and allegedly told the undercover officer about his role in the swatting conspiracy. Denton allegedly stated that he used a voice changer when he made swatting calls, and allegedly admitted that he swatted the offices of ProPublica and the investigative journalist. He also allegedly stated that it would be good if he was “raided” for the swatting because it would be viewed as a top tier crime, and he felt that his arrest could benefit Atomwaffen Division.

Denton is charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, interstate threats to injure. If convicted, he and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-mj-84.

Attachment(s): Download denton_affdavit.pdf
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1252081/download

Topic(s): Cyber Crime

Component(s): USAO - Virginia, Eastern

Contact: Joshua Stueve Director of Public Affairs

Updated February 26, 2020

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/former-atomwaffen-division-leader-arrested-swatting-conspiracy

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Hat tip, Joe.My.God:

Nazi Arrested For Swatting Calls Against Journalists

https://www.joemygod.com/2020/02/nazi-arrested-for-swatting-calls-against-journalists/

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Nazi Arrested For Swatting Calls Against Journalists

Nazi Arrested For Swatting Calls Against Journalists

February 26, 2020 Extremists, Nazis

Just in from the Department of Justice:

A former leader of the white supremacist group Atomwaffen Division was arrested today on charges related to his alleged role in a conspiracy that conducted multiple swatting events that occurred here in the Eastern District of Virginia.

John Cameron Denton, 26, of Montgomery, Texas, is allegedly a former leader of the Atomwaffen Division in Texas. Denton was arrested this morning in Montgomery and will make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. CST before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy K. Johnson at the federal courthouse in Houston.

According to court documents, from November 2018 to at least April 2019, Denton and several co-conspirators, including John William Kirby Kelley, allegedly conspired together to conduct “swatting” calls. Swatting is a harassment tactic that involves deceiving dispatchers into believing that a person or persons are in imminent danger of death or bodily harm and causing the dispatchers to send police and emergency services to an unwitting third party’s address.

According to court documents, Denton allegedly participated in a conspiracy that conducted three swatting calls that occurred here in the Eastern District of Virginia: a Cabinet official living in Northern Virginia on Jan. 27, 2019; Old Dominion University on Nov. 29, 2018; and Alfred Street Baptist Church on Nov. 3, 2018.

Additionally, Denton allegedly chose at least two other targets to “swat”: the New York City office of ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism; and an investigative journalist that produced materials for ProPublica. Denton allegedly chose the two targets because he was furious with ProPublica and the investigative journalist for publishing his true identity and discussing his role in Atomwaffen Division.

The Washington Post reports:

They called the New York Police Department to ProPublica’s office in December 2018, according to the criminal complaint, claiming there was a pipe bomb, hostage and dead body inside. A dozen officers responded and cleared the floor in question; one employee was there and “visibly shaken,” according to the complaint.

Two months later, prosecutors say the group called police to Thompson’s home in California, claiming he was armed and had just killed his wife. He and his wife were briefly detained by police. According to the complaint, Denton confessed to his role in an interview with an undercover agent last month.

John William Kirby Kelley, a 19-year-old former student at Old Dominion University, is also charged in the conspiracy. He was identified after the group called in a fake threat at the school, according to court records, and he then accidentally called school authorities again using his listed phone number.

Public Safety

ProPublica named him as an Atomwaffen leader. Feds say he struck back.

By Rachel Weiner
Feb. 26, 2020 at 11:33 a.m. EST

A Texas man is accused of targeting a ProPublica reporter who named him as a leader in the white supremacist Atomwaffen Division by calling police to his office and home.

John Cameron Denton, of Montgomery, Tex., was arrested Wednesday morning, according to court records. He is charged in Virginia federal court, where prosecutors say he was part of a ring of neo-Nazis who targeted a Cabinet official, a black church and others.

“Denton was furious with ProPublica and the [reporter] because they published his true identity and discussed his role in Atomwaffen,” an FBI agent wrote in a criminal complaint.

While the reporter is not named, the description is of A.C. Thompson, who has written extensively about Denton and Atomwaffen.

According to prosecutors, Denton directed a group of neo-Nazis who harassed ProPublica and Thompson by calling in fake threats to law enforcement in hopes of provoking an overwhelming response — a practice known as “swatting.” They called the New York Police Department to ProPublica’s office in December 2018, according to the criminal complaint, claiming there was a pipe bomb, hostage and dead body inside.

{snip}

Rachel Weiner
Rachel Weiner tries to cover Alexandria's federal court from a small windowless room with no cellphone access. She sometimes ventures outside to write about crime in Alexandria and Arlington. Follow https://twitter.com/rachelweinerwp

[Javaman]

2. I hope this piece of shit dies in prison. nt

[The Mouth]

3. It should be treated as attempted murder

since there is often a high chance that the authorities will shoot first and pretend to ask questions later.

[Blue_Tires]

4. "Economic anxieties" strike again

[marble falls]

5. This is him ...

[Coventina]

7. Wow, really looks like a member of a superior race!

He might as well have "pathetic loser" tattooed on his forehead

[DEbluedude]

8. He's got Stephen Millers eyes.

[marble falls]

9. Nothing empties eyes so totally as a lack of empathy, ethics, morality ....

The thing that truly amazes me about Miller is that the 'policies' he espouses and enacts play best to a crowd of Nazis who think Miller should also be included in the "ethnic/racial cleansing" policies he is implementing himself.

[ck4829]

6. K&R