An Arizona man has been indicted on federal charges following an alleged plot to incite a race war through a planned mass shooting in Atlanta. Mark Adams Prieto of Prescott is accused of aiming to target African Americans and other minorities at a concert, hoping to sow discord leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election. A federal grand jury announced charges against him on Tuesday for firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for the purpose of a hate crime, and possession of an unregistered firearm.

The investigation, which began in late 2023, gained momentum when Prieto told a source at a gun show about his desire "to incite a race war prior to the 2024 United States Presidential Election," as per WSB-TV. Over the span of several months, Prieto allegedly engaged with two individuals who were covertly working with the FBI to orchestrate a shooting at an event attended predominantly by African Americans, particularly considering the gathering as an opportunity due to its high concentration of the minority group.

According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Prieto discussed carrying out a shooting at a rap concert in Atlanta, purportedly targeting this city because of its significant Black population. He was observed trading personal firearms for cash to avoid official scrutiny, and he intended to leave Confederate flags at the scene of the planned violence to make a statement aligning with his ideologies.

In conversations that ranged from January to May 2024, Prieto made his intentions clear, discussing details such as shouting phrases like "KKK all the way" after carrying out an onslaught, as per FOX 5 Atlanta. Notwithstanding the gravitas of these preparations, Prieto was arrested in May while on his way to visit his mother in Florida, not Atlanta as he had indicated earlier in his plans. During a traffic stop in New Mexico, law enforcement found him in possession of seven firearms. Subsequent searches of his home revealed additional weapons, including an unregistered short-barreled rifle.

If convicted, Prieto could face a maximum of 15 years in prison for each count of firearms trafficking and transfer of a firearm for a hate crime, along with a maximum of 10 years for possession of an unregistered firearm. He also could be fined up to $250,000 for each count. A trial date for Prieto has yet to be set.