THREAD: The FBI, relying on the work of a paid Confidential Human Source "CHS" who surveilles from his own vendor booth at gun shows, and an additional undercover agent, have arrested Mark Adams Prieto, who they charge with trafficking firearms and say planned a mass shooting.
2) The feds say Prieto came to their attention in October 2023, when a paid CHS who had talked to Prieto 15 times in the past, "began making suspicious and alarming comments, including advocating for a mass shooting, and specifically targeting “blacks, Jews, or Muslims.”
3) At a January 20-21, 2024 gun show, the feds say Prieto was introduced to an undercover agent at the CHS's vendor booth.
By the second day, Prieto was allegedly sharing details about a planned mass shooting attack against a rap concert to kill Black people.
By the second day, Prieto was allegedly sharing details about a planned mass shooting attack against a rap concert to kill Black people.
4) At a February 24-25, 2024 gun show, Prieto allegedly met back up with the feds, "and immediately asked the UC and CHS if they are still a go for the attack."
He allegedly then sold a rifle to the undercover for $2000 in cash.
He allegedly then sold a rifle to the undercover for $2000 in cash.
5) At a March 23-24, 2024 gun show, the undercover agent asked "if the planned attack was all talk or if they were going to do it" to which Prieto allegedly replied “Yeah, yeah we gotta do it."
He then allegedly sold another rifle to the undercover.
He then allegedly sold another rifle to the undercover.
6) Based on the criminal complaint, it appears that Prieto was talking to the feds about shooting up the Bad Bunny rap concert at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta in May.
He apparently stated that wanted to target State Farm Arena, but might wait until something else later.
He apparently stated that wanted to target State Farm Arena, but might wait until something else later.
7) The fourth undercover operation (and fifth contact with the feds) described in the complaint is an April 17-18, 2024 gun show.
Prieto allegedly told the feds he wanted to acquire smoke grenades and "conduct his own recon of the area."
Prieto allegedly told the feds he wanted to acquire smoke grenades and "conduct his own recon of the area."
8) Prieto's sixth alleged/detailed contact with a confidential human paid FBI source occurred by accident.
On May 5, 2024, the CHS was apparently at a gun show when Prieto showed up unexpectedly, and then said he was indeed heading East to "conduct his recon of Atlanta."
On May 5, 2024, the CHS was apparently at a gun show when Prieto showed up unexpectedly, and then said he was indeed heading East to "conduct his recon of Atlanta."
9) The FBI then confirmed with "an individual who knows Prieto" that he was traveling, and arrested him on the interstate.
He then allegedly spoke to law enforcement, post-Miranda, without an attorney, admitting to some details while denying he intended to actually do an attack.
He then allegedly spoke to law enforcement, post-Miranda, without an attorney, admitting to some details while denying he intended to actually do an attack.
10) The complaint focuses only on words spoken by the defendant, not detailing what the CHS and undercover said.
However, a press release by DOJ describes the feds as portraying "racist beliefs and wanted to commit a mass shooting to incite a race war."
justice.gov/usao-az/pr/ari…
However, a press release by DOJ describes the feds as portraying "racist beliefs and wanted to commit a mass shooting to incite a race war."
justice.gov/usao-az/pr/ari…
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