LACEY, Wash. — Two former military personnel have been arrested in connection with a violent theft at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, where prosecutors say they assaulted a soldier and stole government equipment before federal agents recovered an extensive weapons cache and Nazi paraphernalia from their home.
Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were taken into custody Monday evening at their residence in Lacey, a suburb of Olympia, following an investigation led by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma charges both men with robbery, assault, and theft of government property.
According to the complaint, Fields and Frakes — both former military members — were found to possess a military-style arsenal, including short-barreled rifles, grenade launchers, and an MG42 machine gun, a weapon historically used by Nazi Germany during World War II. Authorities also discovered body armor, ballistic helmets, and a Nazi flag bearing a swastika inside their home.
The incident occurred Sunday night when a soldier stationed at the Army Ranger compound on Joint Base Lewis-McChord encountered two masked intruders inside a building. The soldier questioned the men, who removed their masks, prompting a confrontation that escalated violently. One of the suspects struck the soldier in the head with a hammer, and a knife was later drawn during the struggle, according to the complaint.
Despite severe bleeding, the soldier managed to disarm the attacker wielding the hammer but released the suspects when the second brandished a blade. During the altercation, one of the men dropped a hat labeled “Fields,” which later helped authorities identify and track the suspects using surveillance footage and base entry logs.
A federal search warrant executed at the suspects’ shared residence revealed a stockpile of more than 35 firearms, including illegal short-barreled rifles, incendiary devices, and a World War II-era MG42 machine gun. Several weapons were reportedly staged at upstairs windows, suggesting the home may have been fortified.
Investigators also found approximately $24,000 in cash and an array of military-grade gear, including Army-issued explosives, grenade launchers, ammunition, and protective equipment. Nazi-themed items were photographed at the scene, including a prominent red flag bearing a black swastika.
Authorities say one of the suspects admitted to stealing equipment from the base for two years to sell or trade. Both Fields and Frakes are currently held at Pierce County Jail on $500,000 bail each and may face additional state charges, including unlawful possession of restricted firearms and explosive devices.
Fields was previously assigned to the Ranger Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2021, according to the complaint. Frakes’ military background was not detailed in court documents.
The FBI and Army CID continue to investigate whether the pair were part of a larger trafficking operation or posed additional threats. Federal prosecutors indicated that further charges could be filed pending the results of forensic analysis and interviews.
The arrests underscore growing concerns over extremist ties among former military members and the potential for stolen military hardware to be diverted into the civilian population.
