A 25-year-old Lake County man that investigators say was steeped in neo-Nazi ideology is heading to federal prison after agents uncovered a stash of weapons and gear in his homes. On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced Blake Austin Meyer to 27 months behind bars for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, federal agents searched Meyer’s residences and turned up a cache of weapons and related equipment, including a 3D printer that investigators tie to at least one homemade gun. Meyer was represented by a public defender at sentencing and, under federal law, remains barred from possessing firearms.
Weapons, Alleged Manufacturing and What Was Seized
In filings with the court, prosecutors laid out a list of weapons they say Meyer was not allowed to have: a fully automatic shotgun, two AR-15-style rifles, a loaded handgun and several boxes of ammunition. Agents also seized a 3D printer that they believe was used to manufacture at least one firearm component.
Prosecutors further allege that Meyer did not just stockpile guns for himself. According to FOX 8, they say he traded some of the weapons for other guns and drugs.
Alleged Aryan Brotherhood Role and Earlier Arrest
Court documents go beyond the weapons charges, describing Meyer as an “enforcer” for the Aryan Brotherhood. Investigators say he carried out an assault on behalf of the group while incarcerated, then continued to post violent and extremist material online after his release from jail.
Reporting from 13abc/WOIO details how Meyer was arrested in Kirtland in September after a warrant was issued. The station reports the FBI began investigating him earlier this year, after social-media posts surfaced that showed weapons and extremist tattoos.
The same court filings note that Meyer has a 2021 burglary conviction. He spent about nine months in jail on that case, a stretch during which prosecutors say he joined the Aryan Brotherhood.
What the Law Says and the Sentence
Meyer’s case was brought under federal firearms laws that make it illegal for certain people, including convicted felons, to possess guns. Depending on the specific statute and facts, violations can carry multi-year prison terms.
Under the relevant sections of the federal code, unlawful-possession offenses and related provisions can be punishable by up to 10–15 years in prison, depending on which subsections apply. Judges then decide on the actual sentence after weighing federal sentencing guidelines, the defendant’s history and other factors laid out in the U.S. Code.
FOX 8 reports that in Meyer’s case, the judge settled on 27 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Maltz Museum Call and Federal Involvement
The investigation did not start with a raid but with a phone call. Court records say staff at the Maltz Museum in Beachwood contacted local police after Meyer allegedly called, expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and ended the conversation with a Nazi salute. Beachwood officers then passed the information along to federal authorities.
13abc/WOIO and court papers indicate that the FBI worked with federal prosecutors on the case, helping secure search warrants and ultimately the arrest that led to Meyer’s latest conviction.
