Mark Adams Prieto, 58, of Prescott, Arizona, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple serious charges, including Firearms Trafficking, Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Hate Crime, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The indictment alleges that Prieto conspired with two undercover FBI operatives from January to May 2024. During this period, Prieto was led to believe that these operatives shared his extremist ideologies and intended to use the firearms in a mass shooting aimed at African Americans and other minorities at a concert in Atlanta.
The federal government has indicted a man for plotting a mass shooting at a Bad Bunny concert in Atlanta.
The 58-year-old man named Mark Adams Prieto allegedly aimed to incite a race war before the presidential election. A source Prieto attempted to recruit to his plot notified… pic.twitter.com/1qHPOuDxcs
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 14, 2024
The investigation reveals that Prieto sold two rifles—an AK-style rifle and an AR-style rifle—to the undercover agents. The operatives, posing as racially motivated extremists, convinced Prieto of their plans to initiate a race war. On May 14, 2024, Prieto was intercepted by law enforcement while traveling from Arizona to New Mexico, in possession of seven firearms. A subsequent search of his Prescott residence uncovered additional firearms, including an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
Each count of Firearms Trafficking and Transfer of a Firearm for Use in a Hate Crime carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Possession of an Unregistered Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a similar fine. It is crucial to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and Prieto is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation was a joint effort involving multiple agencies. The Phoenix and Albuquerque FBI Field Offices played a significant role, supported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and the Prescott Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is handling the prosecution, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
This case underscores the critical efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies to prevent potential hate crimes and mass shootings. It highlights the importance of undercover operations in identifying and intercepting threats before they materialize. The successful collaboration among various agencies exemplifies a robust approach to tackling domestic terrorism and firearms trafficking, emphasizing the seriousness with which such threats are treated.