Nesbit man sentenced for making racist threats

A Nesbit man is facing jail time for what was termed making terroristic and racist threats. 

Aubrey Suzuki, age 21 of Nesbit, was sentenced, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), to two-and-a-half years in prison for what the DOJ termed, “transmitting a communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure the person of another.”

Reports are that Suzuki had communicated with members of a white nationalist group through encrypted messages, including messages about Nazism and white supremacy.  

According to the DOJ, authorities got involved when Suzuki began making threats to “accelerate and wage a race war in the United States.”

Agents learned that Suzuki was later arrested when it was learned he was trying to buy an AR-15 from an online dealer.  

“The defendant in this case made credible threats to shoot members of various minority groups, and then purchased a semi-automatic rifle,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner in a statement. “While all Americans enjoy a constitutional right to free speech, that right does not include a right to threaten or terrorize other individuals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute such conduct, and the agents and prosecutors who worked to stop this potential mass shooting are to be commended.”

The DOJ says the FBI investigated the case. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby added, “Mr. Aubrey Suzuki sought to intimidate members of the community through his threats. The FBI prioritizes the protection of civil rights to ensure citizens remain safe without fear of any harm. We remain committed to tirelessly thwarting the nefarious actions of those, like Mr. Suzuki, who intend to impart fear upon citizens based on biases.”