A Colorado Springs man who had 11 guns and white supremacist materials in his properties was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on Friday.
Who is Chad Edward Keith?
Chad Edward Keith, 42, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. He had a previous felony conviction for an explosives offense, which barred him from owning guns.
According to court documents, Keith maintained properties in both Colorado Springs and Cotopaxi, Colorado. At his properties, federal agents found 11 firearms, including rifles and a shotgun, as well as ammunition. They also discovered various paraphernalia and propaganda related to white supremacy and Nazism.
What did the agents find in his properties?
Among the items seized by the agents were a flyer with pictures of various Congressmen and Senators with images of the Star of David on their foreheads, suggesting they were targets for shooting. The agents also found a Nazi flag, a swastika banner, a Confederate flag, and a Ku Klux Klan hood.
In addition, the agents found books, magazines, and DVDs promoting white supremacist ideology and violence. Some of the titles included “The Turner Diaries”, “The Anarchist Cookbook”, “The White Resistance Manual”, and “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”.
What did the judge and the prosecutors say?
United States District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing on January 30, 2024. She ordered Keith to forfeit all 11 firearms and ammunition, and to serve 36 months of supervised release after his prison term.
“Coloradans can rest easier knowing that a dangerous person is behind bars,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to making sure that violent felons are prohibited from possessing weapons.”
“The FBI is committed to keeping communities safe. This commitment includes ensuring that individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms do not acquire them. In this case, a convicted felon was found to be in possession of 11 firearms,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Addressing community safety concerns is a priority for the FBI, and we will continue to work with our partners to remove illegal weapons from the hands of offenders.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
