| Indicted BG man linked to neo-Nazis |
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| Written by Sentinel-Tribune Staff | ||
| Monday, 28 January 2013 11:34 | ||
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which, among other activities, tracks hate groups nationwide, confirmed that they were aware of the activities of Richard Schmidt, 47, Toledo, on a neo-Nazi website some time ago. Mark Potok, of the SPLC, said this morning that Schmidt "was posting under the name of Vinlander 101" on the unnamed site. That online handle, Potok said, may itself be significant, as it could point towards association with the noted skinhead organization the Vinlanders Social Club. According to information on the SPLC's site, the group "relished a reputation for drinking, brawling and following a racist version of Odinism, a form of ancient paganism once practiced by Vikings." The group reportedly operates out of the Midwest. Schmidt, 47, Toledo, owner of Spindletop Sports Zone in the Woodland Mall, was arrested Dec. 21 and indicted on a total of four counts, including possession of a number of firearms, body armor, and more than 40,500 rounds of ammunition. The possession of those items is a crime due to Schmidt's 1990 felony manslaughter conviction in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. The guns included pistols, assault rifles, and shotguns. Schmidt is also charged with trafficking and attempted trafficking in counterfeit NFL, Nike, Reebok, and Louis Vuitton goods found at the store. He was arraigned on the charges in U.S. District Court on Jan. 22. FBI Special Agent Vicki Anderson said this morning that she could not comment on Schmidt's possible neo-Nazi affiliations, noting that she could only speak to what was discussed in the official indictment. "I think some of those reports may have been stemming from materials that were discovered during the search warrant" of Schmidt's home and trailers associated with the business, she said. A call placed with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cleveland seeking a listing of items found in the search warrants on Schmidt's property was not immediately returned. |
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| Last Updated on Monday, 28 January 2013 12:04 |
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Comments
That business was also an illegal front for other things. Read more carefully.
Perhaps you should get more information on this story before commenting. "Destruction of a small business man"? Come on, he was using the Woodland Mall as a place to fly under the radar to stockpile weapons and ammunition. The guy has no ties to this town.
I hope I am mistaken about that.
Either way, making excuses and defending the honor of such individuals basically outs oneself as a sympathizer with their actions.
This man WAS stupid to associate with such racists. He was also stupid to stockpile weapons with a felony conviction.
Our community will be better and safer with this nutjob locked in a hole.
Tom G, a racist sympathizer himself, should probably join him.
Keep that violent nazi crap out of my community.
He served his time was entitled to be free. He is even legally entitled to be Nazi scum. (But I am also entitled to state publicly, in words that would not be permitted in this forum, that people who hold such beliefs are despicable and are not welcome in my town.)
However, it seems entirely reasonable to me that such a person should never be allowed to own weapons.
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