Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Threatening E-mail To Las Vegas Radio Station
Las Vegas, Nev. - United States Attorney Daniel G. Bogden announces that a man who transmitted a threatening and racist e-mail to the Program Director at KWID 101.9-FM (Wild 102), a local radio station, pleaded guilty yesterday before United States District Court Judge Roger L. Hunt to Transmitting a Threatening Communication, a felony offense.
According to the court records, on October 2, 2003, RYAN EDWARD LEWIS, age 18, of Las Vegas, sent an e-mail to the Program Director indicating it was from "Adolf Hitler" at lasvegasarayans@hotmail.com. The e-mail contained racial epitaphs and a threat to kill. The e-mail discussed White Power and ended with the statement, "watch your backs when you get off work because if we come, it is not to threaten, it is to KILL". FBI Agents were able to determine that the e-mail was sent from LEWIS' residence at 3875 Delaware Lane in Las Vegas.
On October 11, 2003, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officers were investigating a shooting of an African-American individual that had occurred in Las Vegas on September 24, 2003. Their investigation also led them to the home of RYAN LEWIS. During a consent search of LEWIS' bedroom, officers found numerous items related to white supremacy, including a Nazi flag, the Turner Diaries, books re: explosives, and photographs of four individuals in front of the Nazi flag giving the Nazi salute. Officers also found a rifle and shotgun.
On October 14, 2003, LEWIS was arrested following the issuance of an Arrest Warrant and Probable Cause Complaint by a United States Magistrate Judge. He was indicted in United States District Court on October 28, 2003.
LEWIS is detained on the federal charges pending sentencing, which is scheduled for March 12, 2004, before Judge Hunt. He is facing up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence will be dictated by the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and will be imposed in the discretion of the Court. There is no parole in the federal system, and persons sentenced to a period of imprisonment serve almost all of that time.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sharon Lever.
