Federal prosecutors announced charges Monday against two people for their alleged involvement in a white supremacist Telegram group that was used to spread hateful content and foment a race war.
The Department of Justice announced in a press release that Dallas Humber, 34, of Elk Grove, California, and Matthew Allison, 37, of Boise, Idaho, were indicted on 15 counts of incitement to commit a hate crime, incitement to kill federal officers, and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.
Law enforcement officials arrested Humber and Allison on Friday, according to the Department of Justice.
According to the indictment, Humber and Allison were leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, an international terrorist group that operated on Telegram.
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The Department of Justice seal was unveiled at a press conference held at the Department of Justice office in Washington on May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Federal prosecutors say the channel was used to spread “white supremacist accelerantism” and the idea that violence and terrorism were “necessary to spark a race war and hasten the collapse of government and the rise of a white ethnostate.”
The two were charged with running a Telegram chat group that promoted “white supremacist accelerationism.” (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
The indictment alleges the pair recruited followers through a Telegram channel to attack what they perceived to be white enemies, including government buildings, energy facilities, politicians and other “high-value” targets.
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Prosecutors said the incitement to violence included statements like “take action now” and “do your part,” and users were told they could become known as “saints” if they promoted white supremacy.
Justice Department officials said the two men used the app to communicate bomb-making instructions, distribute lists of potential assassination targets, including federal judges, senators and former federal prosecutors, and praise acts and plans by active Terrorgram users.
The couple allegedly used a Telegram channel to encourage followers to attack what they perceived as white enemies, including government buildings, energy facilities, politicians and other “high-value” targets. (Yap Ariens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Today's arrests serve as a warning that you can't hide from committing hate-motivated crimes in the darkest corners of the internet, and you can't protect yourself from soliciting terrorist attacks from behind a screen,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “The Department of Justice will find you and hold you accountable.”
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Humber pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Sacramento court on Monday. Fox News Digital has reached out to her attorney for comment.
It was not immediately clear whether Allison had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Fox News Digital also reached out to Telegram but did not immediately receive a response.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
