Thread: Alleged commander of militia group makes initial appearance in federal court

Alleged commander of militia group makes initial appearance in federal court

Algernon D'Ammassa, Las Cruces Sun-News Published 12:25 p.m. MT April 22, 2019


United Constitutional Patriots have been camping out and patrolling an area of the border in Anapra, New Mexico for a few months. Mark R Lambie, El Paso Times

LAS CRUCES — Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, the alleged "commander" of an armed militia group accused of illegally detaining migrants in New Mexico near the United States-Mexico border, made an initial appearance in federal court in Las Cruces on Monday morning.


Hopkins was arrested in Sunland Park Saturday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on a federal complaint alleging he is a convicted felon in possession of firearms.


The complaint states that a 2017 search of Hopkins' home in Flora Vista, New Mexico, discovered nine loaded firearms and ammunition.
Larry Mitchell Hopkins (Photo: Courtesy Dona Ana County jail)

Hopkins was previously convicted, in Oregon in 2006, of felony possession of a firearm and impersonating a peace officer; and, in Michigan in 1996, of possession of a loaded firearm.
The new charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of probation, and a $250,000 fine as well as possible forfeiture of weapons and ammunition.


Hopkins was represented at the hearing by a public defender, but stated he had retained counsel. A detention hearing for Hopkins has been scheduled on April 29 in Albuquerque.


"This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families," New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a statement Saturday. His arrest, Balderas stated, "indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes.”
Buy Photo"Viper," A member of the United Constitutional Patriots-New Mexico Border Ops, stands where the bollard fence in Anapra, New Mexico ends. The group has been camped out on the border for a few months helping Border Patrol watch this section of border. (Photo: Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)

The United Constitutional Patriots has deployed armed volunteers to the border in New Mexico, and has posted videos to social media in recent days showing group members ordering families, including young children, to sit on the dirt and wait for Border Patrol agents to take custody of them.

Over its official Twitter account, Border Patrol said it "does not endorse or condone private groups or organizations that take enforcement matters into their own hands. Interference by civilians in law enforcement matters could have public safety and legal consequences for all parties involved."


In Sunland Park, the group operates from a small encampment near the base of Mt. Cristo Rey, a prominent mountain that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border.

https://www.daily-times.com/story/ne...es/3541126002/

"This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families,"

Ok, so I see two prior gun charges and impersonating a peace officer.. but what was the original felony or charge that makes it illegal for this man to possess a firearm as a felon?

The AG of New Mexico is claiming Larry Mitchell Hopkins is a "dangerous felon" but i don't see the evidence or prior conviction detailed or present in this article.

Can anyone find out what original charge made him a "dangerous felon" not allowed to possess guns?

Larry Mitchell Hopkins: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

• 
• By Kate Prengel

• Updated Apr 22, 2019 at 1:00pm

Dona Ana County Jail/Facebook

Larry Mitchell Hopkins.

The FBI has arrested Larry Mitchell Hopkins, the head of a militia group that has been detaining would-be migrants at the US-Mexico border. The FBI announced that Hopkins, 69, had been arrested on April 20 in Sunland Park, New Mexico on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Hopkins, who often goes by the name of Johnny Horton, is the leader of a militia called the United Constitutional Patriots. The group says it has detained thousands migrants at the border in the last month alone, most of them children. United Constitutional Patriots regularly releases videos of their detentions; the videos show militia members wearing military fatigues and carrying guns. The militia members say they are fighting to defend their flag and their country, but human rights groups, like the American Civil Liberties Union, have denounced the group as a “fascist militia organization.”

Here’s what you need to know about Larry Hopkins:

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1. Hopkins Has a Criminal Record Dating Back to at Least 1986 & Has Been Convicted of Impersonating a Police OfficerArrest report from Klamath County, Oregon
FBI agents arrested Hopkins on April 20 on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has a long arrest record, dating back to at least 1986, when he was arrested and convicted of the “felony of false pretenses,” or fraud, in Midland County, Michigan. Decades later, in 2006, Hopkins was arrested in Klamath County, Oregon on charges of impersonating a police officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the arrest report filed in Klamath County, police found Hopkins at a gas station showing off a gun to a group of young people. The arrest report says that Hopkinns was also showing the group of juveniles a badge that said “special agent” and was telling them that he was a police officer. Hopkins pleaded guilty to impersonating a police officer and to one count of possessing a firearm.

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2. Hopkins Says He Has a Long-Standing Relationship with President Trump & Claims His Militia Shares Information with the Government

Hopkins has repeatedly said that he has sources in the US government that pass along information to him. He told the Southern Poverty Law Center that he was getting tips “from the very top” of the government. He said he didn’t want to tell the SPLC where exactly he was getting his information.

But later, in a radio interview posted by The Renegade Network, Horton said that he had a long-standing relationship with President Trump and that he and the president were in close touch. He said that the president listened to his radio show and that they were exchanging information about the US border — Horton said President Trump was especially interested in the northern border. Explaining where he first met the president, Horton said, “When I was doing music, I met Trump and his first wife when he had the casino in Las Vegas, and I played there numerous times. OK?” Hopkins said. “That’s how I knew him. And Trump and I have kept in touch ever since.”

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3. Hopkins Calls Himself an ‘Entertainer’ & Uses the Name of Country Music Legend Johnny Horton

Both on social media and on his YouTube videos, Hopkins uses the name Johnny Horton Jr. It’s a reference to country music legend Johnny Horton, who died in a car crash in 1960. Hopkins describes himself as an “entertainer” and also performs music. Horton says he first met Donald Trump and Ivana Trump when he was performing his music in Las Vegas. Horton also claims that the president listens to his radio show and that they exchange information about the US border.

4. United Constitutional Patriots Says They Detained Over 3,500 People at the Border in March

Hopkins is the leader of a militia group called United Constitutional Patriots. On April 1, Hopkins wrote on his Facebook page about the group’s recent activities at the border. He said the militia had detained over 3,500 would-be migrants in the past month alone. He added that most of the detainees were children whom, he said, were being trafficked by adults. The April 1 Facebook post reads:

“i am off of the border untill after the 11th , people need to see the truth of whats going on on our boder please go to the united constitutional patriots new mexico boreder ops page on face book , live streamed videos of what we are up against and why we need your support, in the last month our group of patriots have stopped over 3500, mostly kids being trafficked by adults , plus alot of young men that are wanted criminals, i will be going back to the border soon we need help, GOD BLESS YOU ALL.”

Horton’s Facebook page includes photos and videos of heavily armed members of his militia standing beside American flags. Many of the men are wearing camouflage; others have bandannas tied around their faces.

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5. New Mexico’s Attorney General Called Hopkins a ‘Dangerous Felon’ Who Should not Have Weapons

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After Hopkins’ arrest, the attorney general of New Mexico, Hector Balderas, issued a statement praising his arrest. The statement said, “This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families. Today’s arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes.”

FBI agents arrested Hopkins in Sunland Park, New Mexico on April 20 on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Hopkins has a long history of arrests for gun charges and fraud. He is the leader of a militia group, United Constitutional Patriots, which detains would-be migrants at gunpoint along the US-Mexico border.

• Published Apr 20, 2019 at 10:53pm

https://heavy.com/news/2019/04/larry-mitchell-hopkins/

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Ok, so I see two prior gun charges and impersonating a peace officer.. but what was the original felony or charge that makes it illegal for this man to possess a firearm as a felon?

The AG of New Mexico is claiming Larry Mitchell Hopkins is a "dangerous felon" but i don't see the evidence or prior conviction detailed or present in this article.

Can anyone find out what original charge made him a "dangerous felon" not allowed to possess guns?

First arrest----1986 Midland, Michigan for "felony of false pretenses"



FBI agents arrested Hopkins on April 20 on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has a long arrest record, dating back to at least 1986, when he was arrested and convicted of the “felony of false pretenses,” or fraud, in Midland County, Michigan. Decades later, in 2006, Hopkins was arrested in Klamath County, Oregon on charges of impersonating a police officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

https://heavy.com/news/2019/04/larry-mitchell-hopkins/

Latest: New Mexico man charged after weapons found at home

Associated Press
April 22, 2019 — 3:00pm

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Latest on weapons charges filed against a member of an armed civilian group that detained migrants on the US-Mexico border (all times local):
1:10 p.m.
A member of an armed civilian group that has detained migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border was charged Monday with being a felon in possession of firearms.


The federal charges stem from a search of his New Mexico home in 2017.

Larry Hopkins made his initial court appearance Monday in Las Cruces. The 69-year-old man was arrested over the weekend near Sunland Park, where he and others members of his group have been patrolling the border.

The group gained attention last week for stopping hundreds of migrants, drawing criticism from immigrant advocates and Democratic leaders in New Mexico.


A criminal complaint states Hopkins, who has three prior felony convictions, had nine firearms and ammunition in his northern New Mexico home.


Federal officials declined to say why they waited over a year to file the charges.

Hopkins' lawyer said he plans to enter a plea of not guilty at a bond hearing in Albuquerque next week.
___
11:00 a.m.
A member of an armed civilian group that has detained migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border is set to make his first court appearance following his weekend arrest on firearms charges.

Larry Hopkins was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms. He reportedly faced similar charges 13 years ago in Oregon.

The 69-year-old is scheduled for an appearance Monday in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney who could comment on the allegations.

Armed civilian groups have been a fixture on the border for years, especially when large numbers of migrants come through. The latest influx includes many families and children.

An FBI spokesman said additional information about Hopkins would be released after his court appearance.

http://www.startribune.com/the-lates...ges/508906102/

The FBI in court papers filed on Monday said that while investigating Hopkins' group in 2017 witnesses had accused Hopkins of saying the UCP was planning to assassinate Obama, former Democratic presidential candidate Clinton and financier George Soros.

The federal charges stem from a search of his New Mexico home in 2017.

Federal officials declined to say why they waited over a year to file the charges.

------------------------------

Very strange indeed.....

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Ok, so I see two prior gun charges and impersonating a peace officer.. but what was the original felony or charge that makes it illegal for this man to possess a firearm as a felon?

The AG of New Mexico is claiming Larry Mitchell Hopkins is a "dangerous felon" but i don't see the evidence or prior conviction detailed or present in this article.

Can anyone find out what original charge made him a "dangerous felon" not allowed to possess guns?

Yeah they are concerned about a "dangerous felon" but they certainly want them to vote.
Battleground Florida: Soros-Funded Groups Work to Register 1.4 Million Ex-Felons Ahead of 2020

Leader of armed group at U.S. border boasted of assassination training: FBI

Monday, April 22, 2019 10:09 a.m. EDT

FILE PHOTO: U.S. soldiers walk next to the border fence between Mexico and the United States, as migrants are seen walking behind the fence, By Julio-Cesar Chavez and Andrew Hay
LAS CRUCES, N.M./TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - The head of an armed group that stops migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally allegedly boasted of training volunteers to kill former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, an FBI agent said in court papers.


Larry Hopkins, leader of the United Constitutional Patriots, appeared in court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Monday to face charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The FBI said it found guns during a 2017 visit to his home.


The UCP has helped the U.S. Border Patrol detain some 5,600 migrants in New Mexico in the last 60 days, the group said.


Defense attorney Kelly O'Connell said Hopkins planned to plead not guilty to the firearms charge. He said the charges were unrelated to UCP's actions at the border.


"This is not even dealing with what's going on right here," O'Connell said.
Wearing a dark green prison jumpsuit and bright orange sneakers, Hopkins appeared at ease in court and did not speak to anyone but his attorney.


The UCP has said its two-month presence at the border was intended to support U.S. Border Patrol, which has been overwhelmed by record numbers of Central American families seeking asylum.


In court papers, the FBI said witnesses in 2017 accused Hopkins of saying the UCP was training to assassinate Obama; Clinton, who was the Democratic presidential candidate in 2016; and George Soros, a financier who supports liberal causes. The accusations were made during an investigation into "militia extremist activity," the agency said.


The American Civil Liberties Union and other critics accuse the UCP of being a "fascist militia" whose members illegally detain and kidnap migrants by impersonating law enforcement.


UCP members, many of whom have served with U.S. Special Forces, take turns living in a camping trailer close to the border near Sunland Park, New Mexico and patrolling a five-mile section of border, much of it unfenced.


Armed with rifles and wearing camouflage uniforms with the group's eagle insignia, the group has posted dozens of videos showing the volunteers instructing migrant families to sit and wait until Border Patrol agents arrive. The group has been accused of detaining women and children at gunpoint, a claim it fiercely denies.


The videos show armed men casually standing at a distance from migrants and unarmed UCP volunteers sometimes offering them water. The group gained attention after it posted an April 16 video showing as many as 300 migrants, most of them families, sitting at its camp waiting for Border Patrol.


New Mexico's Democratic Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, on Friday ordered an investigation of the UCP. She said "menacing or threatening migrant families and asylum-seekers is absolutely unacceptable and must cease."


"NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS"


FBI Special Agent David Gabriel said in a criminal complaint that in October 2017 the agency received reports a militia was being run out of Hopkins' home in Flora Vista, New Mexico.


When agents entered the home they collected nine firearms, ranging from pistols to rifles, Horton was illegally in possession of as he had at least one prior felony conviction, according to the complaint.


Hopkins, the UCP's national commander, told the agents that his common-law wife owned the weapons in question, according to court papers.


UCP spokesman Jim Benvie said the group's aim was to publicize the "border crisis."


Benvie narrates and posts many of the group's videos. He says the posts prove U.S. President Donald Trump's claims of an "invasion" and "crisis" at the border.


"Bringing up people's past from years ago is getting a little old," said Benvie, referring to the charge against Hopkins. "We're not breaking any laws, we're not pointing guns at people, we're not putting anybody in jeopardy, including the illegal immigrants."

https://whtc.com/news/articles/2019/...deral-charges/

This story made it all the way to the Japan Times.

Anyone seen any tweets from the President about Mexican Soldiers disarming US troops on US Soil?







News




Leader of armed group at U.S. border boasted of being trained to assassinate Obama, Clinton: FBI

Reuters

• Apr 23, 2019 Article history
  

TAOS, NEW MEXICO/LAS CRUCES NEW MEXICO - The leader of an armed group stopping undocumented migrants who cross into the United States from Mexico had boasted that his members had trained to assassinate former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, an FBI agent said in court papers on Monday.


Larry Hopkins was arrested Saturday on a weapons charge. His camouflage-wearing armed United Constitutional Patriots members claim to have helped U.S. officials detain some 5,600 migrants in New Mexico in the last 60 days.



The UCP says its two-month presence at the border is intended to support U.S. Border Patrol, which has been overwhelmed by record numbers of Central American families seeking asylum.


Critics including the American Civil Liberties Union accuse the UCP of being a “fascist militia” whose members illegally detain and kidnap migrants by impersonating law enforcement. New Mexico’s Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, on Friday ordered an investigation of the group. She said “menacing or threatening migrant families and asylum-seekers is absolutely unacceptable and must cease.”


The FBI in court papers said that while it was investigating allegations of “militia extremist activity” in 2017, witnesses accused Hopkins of saying the UCP was planning to assassinate Obama, former Democratic presidential candidate Clinton and financier George Soros.
On Monday, Hopkins appeared in court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to face charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The FBI said it found guns during a 2017 visit to his home.


Defense attorney Kelly O’Connell said Hopkins planned to plead not guilty and noted that the charges were unrelated to UCP’s actions at the border.


“This is not even dealing with what’s going on right here,” O’Connell said.
UCP spokesman Jim Benvie previously said the group was helping the U.S. Border Patrol and publicizing the “border crisis.” He was not immediately available for comment.


Crowdfunding sites PayPal and GoFundMe last week barred the group, citing policies not to promote hate or violence, after the ACLU called the UCP a “fascist militia.”


FBI Special Agent David Gabriel said in a criminal complaint filed on Monday that in October 2017 the agency received reports a militia was being run out of Hopkins’ home in Flora Vista, New Mexico.


When agents entered the home they collected nine firearms, ranging from pistols to rifles, Horton was illegally in possession of as he had at least one prior felony conviction, according to the complaint. The FBI said in court papers that in 2006, Hopkins was convicted of criminal impersonation of a peace officer and felony possession of a firearm, and that in 1996 he was also convicted on a firearms charge.


Hopkins, the UCP’s national commander, told the agents that his common-law wife owned the weapons in question, according to court papers.


At the time, the FBI had received information that the UCP had around 20 members and was armed with AK-47 rifles and other firearms.
“Hopkins also allegedly made the statement that the United Constitutional Patriots were training to assassinate George Soros, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama” because it believed that they supported left-wing, anti-fascist protesters, the complaint said.
Former state and federal prosecutor David S. Weinstein said Border Patrol’s tacit allowance of the UCP to operate may have allowed it to go beyond what citizens are legally allowed to do.


“To the extent where the FBI has got involved, I think it’s escalated to a point where they need to send a stronger message out to them that ‘No, we told you not to do this,’ ” said Weinstein, a partner at the law firm of Hinshaw and Culbertson.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20.../#.XL6K0dgpDce

The guy is an obvious fruit loop. The liberal media is all in on portraying this guy as your typical border security advocate.