ADL’s Southwest Region welcomes the sentencing of former Atomwaffen leader John Cameron Denton to 41-years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to target a U.S. Cabinet member, and African American church, a journalist and more than 100 others with fake bomb threats and 9-1-1 calls. U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady of Virginia imposed the sentence and ruled Denton’s actions should be considered a hate crime. The sentence was less than the 5-year term sought by federal prosecutors, but more than twice the 18-months asked for by Denton’s defense attorney.

“John Cameron Denton has been on our radar for years, including protesting outside our Houston ADL office as part of a white supremacist event,” said ADL Southwest Senior Associate Director Dena Marks. “It is no small relief to hear that he will be behind bars for several years.”

Atomwaffen is a neo-Nazi group whose members have been linked to violent crimes including murder and alleged plots to attack civilians, nuclear facilities, and synagogues. They believe they are preparing for a race war to combat what they consider the cultural and racial displacement of the white race.

Members participate in “hate camps” and military-style training exercises.

The swatting conspiracy Denton participated in has been called “the largest swatting conspiracy ever taken down by federal government.”