A federal grand jury has indicted an Arizona man on suspicion of trafficking firearms in a sting operation in which the weapons were to be used in a mass shooting to incite a race war, according to a news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona.
Mark Adams Prieto, 58, of Prescott, faces charges of firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime and possession of an unregistered firearm, the release says.
"The indictment alleges that, between January 2024 and May 2024, Prieto had discussions with two individuals working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to devise a plan to commit a mass shooting of African Americans and other minorities to incite a race war prior to the 2024 United States Presidential Election," the release says. "Prieto did not know the individuals were working with the government, but instead believed that they shared his racist beliefs and wanted to commit a mass shooting . . . at a concert in Atlanta that was going to be held on May 14 and May 15, 2024."
Prieto allegedly sold two rifles to one of the individuals, an AK-style rifle on Feb. 25 and an AR-style rifle on March 24.
Prieto was taken into custody by the FBI May 14 on Interstate-40 while driving from Arizona through New Mexico. Officials found seven firearms in his possession at the time of the arrest, the release said.
More firearms were later found in his Prescott home, including an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
