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.
Canadian Neo-Nazi Sentenced After Trying to Instigate Racist, Misogynistic Civil War in U.S.https://t.co/uaBf0bteoe
— Law & Crime (@lawcrimenews) October 29, 2021
Joseph Balter, who represents suspected white supremacist Patrik Mathews, says this case is about first amendment rights. @wjz pic.twitter.com/6HB35LttGk
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) January 22, 2020
Patrik Mathews, a Canadian member of the neo-Nazi terror group The Base, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Mathews hopped the border and lived in the US illegally with members of The Base who prosecutors allege he planned a mass killing with. https://t.co/TuHmQ4VPzW
— Mack Lamoureux (@MackLamoureux) October 28, 2021
Just in: Neo-Nazis, Patrik Mathews and Brian Lemley Jr were officially declared domestic terrorists by a federal judge today.
They’re members of a paramilitary group & plotted a bomb attack in Richmond Virginia. pic.twitter.com/1zEmP1Nnql
— Christopher ?? Proud Dem (@cwebbonline) October 25, 2021
BREAKING: Former member of the Canadian Armed Forces and recruiter for the accelerationist group The Base, Patrik Mathews, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.https://t.co/R3rMPUm6N0
— Canadian Anti-Hate Network (@antihateca) October 28, 2021
An expert on hate crimes says the nine-year prison sentence handed down to former Manitoba army reservist Patrik Mathews sends an important message. https://t.co/0EJxy8bhC5
— The Fifth Estate (@cbcfifth) October 29, 2021
Patrik Mathews and Brian Lesley Jr.: Two members of a neo-Nazi paramilitary group were officially declared domestic terrorists in a federal case in Maryland Monday, according to Winnipeg News reporter Ryan Thorpe.
https://t.co/lLSDGqtDTm— LiA (@LibsInAmerica) October 26, 2021
?UPDATE: Prosecutors recommended 25 yrs. in prison for Patrik Mathews & Brian Lemley Jr. The men were arrested ahead of the gun rights rally last yr. Prosecutors say the men discussed assassinating a lawmaker, speaker Filler-Corn says she was the target.https://t.co/TSC1i3ZCf4
— Anthony Antoine (@AnthonyNBC12) October 26, 2021