In a notable crackdown on far-right extremism, Alexander Lightner, a 27-year-old from Venice, has been sentenced to a 51-month term for owning an unregistered firearm. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lightner pled guilty on March 11, resulting in his sentencing by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung.
A member of the online entity known as Terrorgram Collective, Lightner's activities included making threatening statements indicative of violent intents steeped in white supremacist ideology. Examples of these statements, as court records reveal, include “2024 there shall be saints,” and “Highscore shall be defeated.” These chilling words echoed within the group's digital walls, sparking concern and action from federal authorities, who, less than a week following Lightner's posts, descended upon his Venice residence and uncovered a trove of weapons and ammunition, alongside a copy of Mein Kampf and materials that exalt a history of racially motivated violence.
Among the disturbing cache of items, federal agents found a homemade silencer, several firearms, thousands of rounds of ammo, and troubling literature. The "saints" that Lightner referred to symbolize a macabre honorific within certain circles of white supremacists who have taken a violent stand for their beliefs while the pursuit to break the “Highscore” alludes to an aspiration to eclipse previous white supremacist attacks in casualty count.
The investigation and subsequent apprehension, a collaborative effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office; was a testament to the interagency cooperation that is so vital when confronting threats of domestic terrorism. When faced with the evidence, Lightner admitted ownership of the silencer and to crafting it himself. He also confessed to authoring the troubling messages on Terrorgram, acknowledging their intention and contents.
The implications of such a case resonate beyond the individual. They harken to the ongoing struggle law enforcement, and society faces in quelling the violent undercurrents that seek to destabilize communities through rhetoric and action rooted in hate. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt led prosecution efforts, securing the sentence for Lightner, who will now face over four years in federal confinement for his actions and affiliations that gravely threatened public safety.
