Two Neo-Nazis Get Nine Years Each In Racist Terror Plot

From the Department of Justice:



U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced two members of the racially motivated violent extremist group “The Base” each to nine year in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for firearms and alien-related charges arising from federal charges in Maryland and Delaware. Judge Chuang found that, based on additional evidence presented by the government at a hearing on October 25, 2021, the defendants committed these crimes with the intent to promote federal terrorism crimes.

Brian Mark Lemley, Jr., age 35, of Elkton, Maryland, and Newark, Delaware, previously pleaded guilty to the Maryland charges of conspiracy to transport certain aliens, to transporting certain aliens, to disposing of a firearm and ammunition to an illegal alien, and to transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; and for the Delaware charges of harboring certain aliens, aiding and abetting an alien in possession of a firearm, and obstruction of justice.

Canadian national Patrik Jordan Mathews, age 29, recently of Newark, Delaware, previously pleaded guilty to the Maryland and Delaware charges of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition; for the Maryland charge of transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony; and for the Delaware charge of obstruction of justice.

According to court filings, Lemley, Mathews, and Bilbrough were members of The Base, a racially motivated violent extremist group. Since 2018, The Base has built a coalition of white supremacist members within the United States and abroad through, among other things, online chat rooms, in-person meetings, propaganda, and military-style training. The Base’s accounts on social media repeatedly posted content promoting terrorism, lone-wolf attacks, and a white ethno-state.

As detailed in their plea agreements, Lemley and Bilbrough traveled in Lemley’s vehicle to participate in a regional training camp conducted by members of The Base in Georgia from August 2 through August 4, 2019, including participating in tactical training and firearms drills. Later in August, Lemley and Bilbrough attended another The Base training camp in a different state.

As detailed in the plea agreements for Lemley and Mathews, on August 19, 2019, the Winnipeg (Canada) Free Press published an article regarding one of its reporter’s infiltration of The Base that led to the identification of Mathews as a member of The Base. Mathews then fled Canada and illegally entered the United States. At some point thereafter, Lemley and Bilbrough learned that Mathews had unlawfully crossed the border.