LONG AWAITED - Today we reveal the depth of far-right extremism inside the Miami-Dade GOP — including 7 Proud Boys, multiple J6 participants + numerous associates serving on their executive committee.
Grab your cafecito, this will be a big one. 🔥☕️
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This thread is based on a current list of @MiamiDadeGOP Republican Executive Committee members obtained through sources at the annual Lincoln Day dinner fundraising event held April 22 @ the swanky Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach + featuring DeSantis as keynote speaker. 2/ 🥂
We’ve delayed releasing this thread as we’ve gathered more details & worked with local + national media who are actively covering this topic.
Our account has previously documented nearly every subject listed in this thread over the past year — just name search for more. 3/ 📰
There’s already been consequences.
After only 8 months on the job Miami GOP executive director Brandon Diaz penned his resignation after we exposed his close ties w far-right groups & his girlfriend, GOP operative Barbara Balmaseda, as being inside the Capitol on J6. 4/ 🪦
Miami Proud Boys with Miami GOP Executive seats are: Gilbert Fonticoba #SumoPB, Pedro Barrios, Oswaldo “Ozzy” Perez Cerezal, Nowell Salgueiro, Chris Barcenas #USAPB, Adolfo Dominguez Fuentes and Gabriel Garcia #GarciaPB.
# = J6 participant
Let’s meet them, but first… 5/ 🤠
… We need to address that the Miami Proud Boys pass themselves off as “just a drinking club” “male fraternity” and “patriots.”
But their role in Jan 6, participation in harassment campaigns locally and promotion of anti-LGBTQ + racist hate speech + symbols says otherwise. 6/
On May 27th Miami Proud Boys posted a video in their telegram channel from The Western Chauvinist, a platform recently outed as run by former Canadian Proud Boys who turned openly toward neo-Nazism but still remain widely popular among current PB. 7/
The video can only be described as nakedly pro-fascist propaganda with images of Pinochet, Mussolini, Hitler and a 1939 American Nazi Party rally.
See for yourself and remember that members of this group currently have a hand in shaping GOP policy for Miami-Dade County. 8/
Our first Proud Boy is former Army Captain Gabriel Garcia who is currently facing a slew of felony charges after filming himself storming the Capitol on Jan 6.
Gabriel was on the front lines in clashes w the police on J6 & with counter protesters at Stop the Steal rallies. 9/
Note the “RWDS” patches = Right Wing Death Squads.
According to his own text msgs released by prosecutors Gabriel brought a knife to J6:
-“Taking a knife as well”
-“Be happy my guns aren’t going this time”
-“is not for defense is for offense” 10/ 🗡
“No friction” is how Proud Boy Gabriel Garcia describes his relationship with the Miami GOP re: his membership in the Proud Boys + participation in J6.
Gabriel released this video on his telegram channel of himself being interviewed by an NYT reporter. 11/
Also good to note that Gabriel ran for office as a GOP candidate in 2020 for FL State Representative District 116.
He lists lots of affiliations, including the far-right John Birch Society, but leaves out his long time Proud Boy affiliation. 12/
Next we have 36 year old Nowell Salgueiro.
This “low libido” Proud Boy has a criminal record that includes battery on a police officer, a concealed weapons violation and a spate of online and in person harassment, including death threats. 13/
This thug life wannabe fascist who wears Pinochet helicopter shirts is captured in this video at an April SeSantis fundraiser taunting “See me in the streets … you don’t want to catch these hands” as he shakes his fists. 14/
Next we have Proud Boy, January 6th rioter and failed Miami real estate agent Chris Barcenas.
He served as the Miami leader of the now supposedly defunct fake patriot/Proud Boy front group Floridians First. 17/
Named as #USAPB by Sedition Hunter accounts Barcenas was ID’d on the front lines of the Proud Boys who broke thru police lines on Jan 6 & he’s given testimony to the J6 Committee.
With revelations that PBs planned & coordinated the assault in advance he’s has key info. 18/
Fun fact: Chris Barcenas briefly dated the chair of Miami Moms for Liberty Eulalia Jimenez, who is over ten years his senior.
She found him to be “not my cup of tea.” 🍵 19/
Enjoy a cafecito break as we continue the thread! ☕️ /20
As we continue our thread, these posts appeared in the Miami Proud Boys telegram channel earlier today underscoring the hateful agenda they push.
✅ burning LGBT flag meme
✅ white nationalist inspired screed against feminists, gays and immigrants 21/
Another example related to Gabriel Garcia is his interaction with a telegram account w handle “Anti Semitic Action” & user name “GJC88” — 88 being a neo-Nazi reference to “Hiel Hitler.”
Gabriel thanks them for the support + political advice (that fascism is good, actually). 22/
Now let’s introduce Proud Boy and Miami GOP REC member Gilbert Fonticoba.
This school board harasser, dead beat dad and conspiracy wacko is currently facing a six count felony indictment for his participation in Jan 6, which included being inside the Capitol. 23/
This video posted by Gilbert in his telegram channel places him inside the mob of Proud Boys and Oathkeepers who were the first to break through police lines on Jan 6.
He was identified by Sedition Hunter accounts and given the hashtags #SumoPB and #RightHandPB. 24/
Gilbert also brags about participating in violent street clashes after the Dec 15 Stop the Steal rally in DC and no doubt participated in the burning of a BLM banner stolen from a church.
Enrique Tarrio was the only one charged & served a 5 mo prison sentence for this. 25/
Fun facts: Gilbert is such a cringy loser that he even wears his Proud Boy gear (including PB mask 🤨) to his doctors office. He even got himself banned from dating apps too.
“This is communism I can’t even get a freaking date now SMH” 😂😂 28/
Continuing the thread … as we stated, we’ve been working w national media to bring exposure to the pervasive far-right extremism inside the @MiamiDadeGOP.
The NYT just published this article on the Proud Boys inside the GOP based on our research. 29/
Next we have Miami Proud Boy and GOP REC member Oswaldo “Ozzy” Perez Cerezal.
Ozzy is a former Marine, VFW 10212 District 5 Commander + used to work at AT&T before becoming a Latinos for Trump VP alongside Enrique Tarrio — both linked to the J6 conspiracy investigation. 30/
Ozzy has appeared in a Vice News documentary on the Miami Proud Boys, alongside Oliver Stone and landed himself two articles in the local press for various stunts he’s pulled. 31/
Now let’s meet one of ugliest of the bunch, Proud Boy and Miami GOP committeeman Adolfo Dominguez Fuentes.
Of Cuban descent but growing up in PR Adolfo is best buddies w Ozzy and served as “Sergeant at Arms” for Latinos for Trump (rebranded as Latinos for America First). 32/
Like Ozzy, we also believe Adolfo works at an AT&T store (Dixie Hwy location) and we know because of his Proud Boy buddy the “attorney that rides” Gabe Carrera of Broward left him a fake google review. 😂
Nice “commie killer” shirt posing with FL Rep Matt Gaetz! 🤡 33/
Extra spicy is this clip of an NYT reporter asking Gabriel Carrera about an alleged incident of a gun being pulled during an altercation at the Dec 2021 REC meeting.
While no one will fess up to it, multiple inside sources point to Adolfo as being behind it. 🔫 34/
Last but not least is Proud Boy and GOP REC member Pedro Barrios who marched at the Stop the Steal rallies, which were the warm ups to Jan 6.
He’s also a Proud Boy Mason, formerly serving as Worshipful Master & current Marshall w Coral Gables Masonic Lodge # 260.
#93 🏎💨 35/
By day Pedro Barrios is clinical social worker for Devonear mental health services on Krome Ave.
He also made a 2020 bid for FL House Rep District 105 with the backing of Roger Stone, campaigning with QAnon slogan “WWG1WGA” and “All Lives Matter” hashtags. 36/
Fun fact: While running for office Pedro attended a Proud Boy organized “Reopen Rally” at the height of the pandemic in April 2020.
After not filing financial reports earned him a $2,331 fine he wrote a pathetic appeal letter claiming his campaign treasurer died … of COVID. 37/
💥 BONUS 💥
A sampling of Pedro’s Facebook postings: racist “Saint Floyd of Fentanyl,” pride month is “LGBT propaganda,” Jan 6 arrestees are “political prisoners,” “a good communist is a dead communist.”
Pedro also recruited Proud Boy Chris Barcenas into his Mason lodge. 38/
Did you think we were done? Nope. We’re just taking a breather.
These are the seven Proud Boys holding seats on the Miami GOP Republican Executive Committee and next we will reveal their allies and other REC members involved in the far-right. /39
Also — be sure to read the alt-text feature for the photos throughout this thread where we often include extra details. 40/ END.
@threadreaderapp please unroll this thread and create a beautiful permanent archive of this thread that will last forever. ❤️🙏
CORRECTION: Just in case anyone was confused ... in tweet /34 we mix up the Gabriels and wrote "Gabe Carrera" when we meant to write Gabriel Garcia.
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Next week Miami Young Republicans will host an event opposing #Florida’s Amendment 4 pro-choice ballot measure.
Among the “most influential voices” is antisemitic & pro-Putin podcaster Linda Catalina Cuadros — but that’s just the beginning with @MiamiYRs.
Let’s dive in! 🧵 1/
Miami based influence grifter Linda Cuadros got her start w anti-vaccine & pro-MAGA content but quickly expanded into far-right anti-LGBTQ themes on “globohomo” & support 4 Kanye West.
We also documented her sharing notorious neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin in her Telegram channel.
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Linda’s open antisemitism & Putin simp content naturally attracted attention in June when she did a sit down interview w Miami mayor Francis Suarez, earning her local media coverage. #WakeUpWithLinda
One of Florida’s worst creations, white MAGA rapper “Forgiato Blow” aka Kurt Jantz, has just posted that all his YouTube videos were just taken down. 1/
Forgiato Blow, aka Kurt Jantz, attended Jan 6 and appeared multiple times alongside now imprisoned former Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio. 2/
We’ve also documented Forgiato Blow in Miami for a small anti-LGBTQ hate rally directed at Target in June 2023 alongside a Miami Proud Boy & QAnon flat earth singer Jimmy Levy who he collaborated with for his ‘Boycott Target’ track. 3/
Meet the man currently nominated for a Florida State GOP Committeeman seat by the Miami GOP @MiamiDadeGOP.
Former Proud Boy & January 6th rioter Chris Barcenas. #USAPB
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Following the scandal caused by NYT coverage of the Proud Boys & allies holding seats on the Miami GOP Republican Executive Committee (REC) in 2022 — many remain active, including Barcenas.
This is also why the Miami GOP keeps membership a secret. 2/
Keep in mind two Proud Boys, Gabriel Garcia & Gilbert Fonticoba, were sitting Miami GOP REC members when indicted for J6 charges. Both since convicted.
A third REC member, Barbara Balmaseda #PinkGaiterPBG, was indicted in Dec 2023 for being inside the Capitol on J6 w Garcia. 3/
Rafael Verde, b. Dec 1968, is behind a string of short lived real estate & investment LLCs & currently “Ice Mountain LLC.”
Public records show a mountain of personal debts — his house went into foreclosure this month & he’s facing two credit card lender lawsuits for $27k. 2/
Proud Boy Rafael Antonio Verde has records for evictions in 2000, 2015, 2018 & another foreclosure in 2006. Former employer Bankers Life & Casualty sued him in 2015 for not returning $12k in commissions — likely signed up fraudulently based on later criminal charges. 3/
NEW: Today we present a special reveal featuring the president of Miami’s Vice City Proud Boys & two associates.
Let’s meet Alejandro “Alex” Reyes, the 50 year old discount rack Liver King who irons his beard & lives in a $2.5 million house in the burbs of Kendall. 1/🧵
Roid raging Proud Boy & president of Miami’s Vice City chapter Alejandro “Alex” Reyes is known for his appearances at the Miami school board @MDCPS opposing LGBTQ history month alongside PB ally groups, Miami Moms for Liberty (RIP) and the Christian Family Coalition. 2/
Miami Proud Boy leader Alejandro “Alex” Reyes has been a fixture at rallies + events & we know he’s the president because his telegram profile tells us: VCPB = Vice City Proud Boys.
In 2022 he was one of several Proud Boys who signed on as local poll workers w @MDCElections 3/
Let’s meet Patrick Bet-David who invited neo-fascist & white supremacist Patriot Front leader Thomas Rousseau, currently facing charges for the tiki torch Nazi march during Unite the Right, to his Fort Lauderdale studio for a ‘friendly chat’ on his PBD Podcast for YouTube.
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Patrick Bet-David @patrickbetdavid is a 45 year old multi-level marketing ‘entrepreneur’ & podcaster based in Fort Lauderdale living in a $20 mill mansion in the posh neighborhood of Bay Colony.
800 feet of waterfront with a boat slip as well. 🛥️🐳 2/
Patrick Bet-David is a cretin of the right-wing media sphere with a recent appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show and last year did a “5 hour sit down” with underage model trafficker (allegedly) & professional misogynist Andrew Tate. 3/