Neo-Nazi Leader Was Investigated for Supporting Al Qaeda
The revelation emerged when Kreis pleaded guilty to a federal charge of lying to the U.S. government while drawing military veterans’ benefits. He was getting enhanced benefits from the government he hates even though he only served nine months in the U.S. Navy.
During the brief court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Eichelberger revealed that Kreis became the focus of an FBI investigation after he made public statements aligning himself with Al Qaeda jihadists. “Kreis stated that he and members of his movement desired to join Al Qaeda in its jihad against the United States government,’’ the prosecutor said. “Actions in material support of enemies of the government are criminal, and federal law enforcement investigated whether Kreis was acting on these statements or providing support to Al Qaeda.”
Kreis was not charged with providing material support to foreign enemies. However, an analysis of his financial records by federal investigators revealed that he had “substantial unreported funds” going into his bank accounts, Eichelberger said. “During 2005, for example, Kreis received approximately $33,669 from sources other than the Veterans Administration, and he failed to report any of the money,” the prosecutor said.
“Furthermore, in an eligibility report that he submitted to the VA on Aug. 29, 2006, Kreis stated that during 2005, he had no income from any source. This false report formed the basis for the crime to which Kreis pleaded guilty.”
Kreis, a 56-year-old longtime racist with former ties to white supremacist Posse Comitatus, peacefully surrendered to the sheriff in Fulton, Tenn., in June after earlier telling federal authorities he was ready to die in a gun battle.
He has been in custody in South Carolina since his arrest on the federal indictment. He was unable to post a $50,000 bond, despite a fundraising effort by fellow racist R. Vincent Bertollini, who came to the financial rescue of Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler more than a decade ago. (Butler, founder of the group, died in 2004. Today, Kreis is one of several people who claim to lead the remnants of what was once one of America’s leading hate groups.)