By In a disturbing case, an Arizona man, Mark Adams Prieto, 58, has been indicted on four counts of gun-trafficking crimes after federal prosecutors revealed that an undercover FBI sting operation uncovered his plans to kill Black people in a mass shooting to “incite a race war.” The grand jury indictment, handed down on Tuesday, includes charges of gun trafficking, transferring a gun for use in a hate crime, and possession of an unregistered gun.
Prieto was arrested on May 14 while driving east on a New Mexico highway with seven guns in his vehicle, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Arizona district. Prior to his arrest, he had informed an FBI undercover agent, who was posing as a racist gun enthusiast, about his intentions to drive to Atlanta, Georgia, for reconnaissance of possible venues to attack. Prieto wanted to carry out the attack before the U.S. presidential election in November.
The indictment revealed that between January and May, Prieto met multiple times with the undercover agent and an FBI source at various gun shows in Arizona. Even before January, he had discussed with the FBI source his plans to “carry out a mass shooting targeting African Americans, Jews, and Muslims.”
Prieto, the undercover agent, and the source had selected concerts planned for Atlanta on May 14 and May 15 as their targets for the mass shooting, as Prieto expected these events to be attended by a large number of African Americans. In March, Prieto sold an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to the undercover agent at a Phoenix gun show to be used in the attack.
Later, at another gun show in Phoenix, Prieto informed the agent that he wanted to postpone the attack and was considering changing the target to a mosque. However, he still planned to drive east in May for reconnaissance.
When Prieto was arrested while driving alone, he had seven guns in his vehicle but only had ammunition for one handgun. A search of his home in Prescott, Arizona, revealed more guns and ammunition, including an unregistered rifle.
If convicted on the most serious charge, Prieto faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. He remains in custody and could not be reached for comment, while his attorney has not immediately responded to queries.
This case highlights the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and hate crimes in the United States, as well as the crucial role that undercover law enforcement operations play in preventing such tragedies. The successful intervention by the FBI has potentially saved countless lives and serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation in combating extremism and violence.
