Two Oregon Men Plead Guilty to Federal Hate Crime

WASHINGTON - Gary Moss and Devan Klausegger of Medford, Ore., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to interfere with civil rights, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King for the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut for the District of Oregon.

According to facts stipulated in their plea agreements and set forth in the indictment, on May 26, 2008, Moss poured a flammable liquid on the front lawn of the victims’ residence in the shape of a cross and the letters "KKK". Klausegger handed Moss a small explosive device that Moss used to ignite the flammable liquid. Moss and Klausegger admitted that this was done with the intent to interfere with the victims’ rights under the Fair Housing Act because one of the victims was African-American.

Moss and Klausegger were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16, 2008.

"Bias-motivated acts of violence are offensive to our nation's fundamental values," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department is committed to vigorously prosecuting the federal laws prohibiting violent acts motivated by hate."

"Crimes committed in the name of racial hatred tear at the very fabric of our society," said U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut. "All members of our society must be free to live without fear that they will be targeted because of their race."

Moss and Klausegger face a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing has been scheduled for May 5, 2009, before Judge Ann Aiken.

This case is being prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorney Bud Fitzgerald and Trial Attorney Roy Conn from the Civil Rights Division.