Serious Federal Charges Filed Against “Aryan Strikeforce"
Five members of a white nationalist organization from four states were indicted late last week in Pennsylvania on federal charges, including possession of machine gun parts and money laundering, authorities announced
The five belong to the “Aryan Strikeforce,” which claims its goal is “to protect the honor of our women, children, and the future of our race and nation” using violence as a necessary tool to achieve its goals, the Justice Department said in announcing the arrests.
The suspects, all under arrest, are: Henry Lambert Baird, 40, of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Jacob Mark “Boots” Robards, 40, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Joshua Michael “Hatchet” Steever, 37, Phillipsburg, New Jersey; Justin Daniel “Rocko” Lough, 26, Waynesboro, Virginia, and Connor Drew Dykes, 20, Silver Spring, Maryland.
An indictment returned by a grand jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, accuses the five of conspiring to transport methamphetamine, firearms, and machine gun parts to generate money to fund the activities of the Aryan Strikeforce, including the acquisition of firearms.
The indictment alleges the defendants were involved in the illegal transfer of firearms to a convicted felon, possession of firearms by convicted felons, transfer of unregistered machine gun parts, distribution of methamphetamine, money laundering of drug proceeds, conspiracy and interstate travel to facilitate drug distribution and money laundering.
The indictment doesn’t’ provide further details about the racist group’s activities. Its web site indicates it has active members in 21 states and three Canadian provinces along with 16 other foreign countries.
The case was investigated by the FBI, along with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Virginia State Police, Phillipsburg (New Jersey) Police Department, New York State Police, Waynesboro (Virginia) Police Department, and the Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department .
