FBI probes Atlanta Black extremist group allegedly arming homeless men, infiltrating protests

Federal prosecutors are investigating an Atlanta-based Black extremist group preaching violence towards the U.S. authorities as a part of a wide-ranging felony probe, in accordance with a report. 

The Black Hammer Celebration, allegedly concerned in arming and recruiting homeless males, is underneath joint investigation by the FBI and the Fayetteville, Georgia Police Division for a slew of potential expenses starting from weapons and narcotics offenses, kidnapping and human trafficking, The Atlanta Journal-Structure reported. 

The report cited testimony from Fayetteville Police Avenue Gang Investigator Diana Snider, who took the stand throughout the trial for Black Hammer chief Augustus Claudius Romain Jr., 36, often called Gazi Kodzo, and a high lieutenant, 21-year-old Xavier “Keno” Rushin in connection to the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of gang recruits held towards their will in a storage. 

Snider testified that she learn a newspaper story in regards to the Black Hammer Celebration months in the past across the similar time she was contacted by the FBI about transferring investigations into the extremist group to the Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville. Although she advised the court docket no expenses have but been filed in that investigation, the group was underneath surveillance for allegedly arming homeless males and for its aggressive panhandling ways focusing on school college students for donations close to Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. 

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In response to a latest federal indictment unsealed in Tampa, Florida, Romain and the Black Hammer Celebration have been concerned in an alleged scheme with a Russian citizen with ties to the Kremlin aiming to sow discord within the U.S. by paying fringe teams to protest and infiltrate native political actions. 

Along with the Atlanta-based Black Hammer Celebration, the indictment named different teams in Florida and California. 

Romain and Rushin stay held with out bond on expenses of kidnapping, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit a felon and participating in road gang exercise after an alleged recruit to their group dialed 911 about being trapped within the storage of a house. 

Tents belonging to individuals with out housing throughout a warmth advisory in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. 
(Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

Throughout Tuesday’s listening to, conspiracy expenses have been dropped towards each males, however Romain stays additionally charged with forcibly sodomizing one of many alleged victims. 

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Snider testified that Romain was underneath investigation for utilizing intercourse as a manner of acquiring rank within the Black Hammer Celebration, and authorities have been investigating three different alleged kidnappings tied to the identical home. One sufferer claimed he was sexually assaulted at gunpoint for refusing Romain’s 8 p.m. bedtime order in order that the group might rise up early the subsequent morning for a protest.