MINNESOTA
Federal officials on Friday stated that Michael Robert Solomon, 30, and Benjamin Ryan Teeter, 22, are charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to Hamas, a terrorist organization.
“Michael Solomon and Benjamin Teeter proclaim themselves to be members of the Boogaloo Bois, a group that espouses a violent ideology and an objective to overthrow the government. The defendants believed their anti-U.S. government views aligned with those of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization, and actively developed plans to carry out violence in Minnesota and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald.
Adding, “Whenever extremist ideologies, regardless of their roots, move into the realm of violence, the FBI and its Joint Terrorism Task Force stands at the ready to prevent potentially deadly and destructive plots.”
According to court documents, in late May of 2020, the FBI initiated an investigation into Solomon and Teeter, two members of the “Boogaloo Bois,” and a sub-group called the “Boojahideen.”
The Boogaloo Bois is a loosely- connected group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments, according to officials.
The term “Boogaloo” itself references a supposedly impending second civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against the government.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, during the civil unrest in the Twin Cities following the death of George Floyd, according to a witness, Solomon was openly carrying firearms in a residential neighborhood in Minneapolis.
Solomon and Teeter interacted with the witness over the course of several days.
The witness told FBI agents that Solomon and Teeter possessed firearms and substantial quantities of ammunition.
Also, FBI agents were told that Solomon, Teeter, and other members of the Boogaloo Bois and Boojahideen discussed committing acts of violence against police officers and other targets.
This is to further Boojahideen’s stated goal of overthrowing the government and replacing its police forces.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, in early June, the FBI received information about Solomon, Teeter, and other members of the Boogaloo Bois and the Boojahideen through a confidential human source (“CHS”), whom the defendants believed to be a member of Hamas.
In audio-recorded conversations, Solomon and Teeter expressed that Hamas shares anti-U.S. government views that align with their own views.
Solomon and Teeter also expressed their desire to employ themselves as “mercenaries” for Hamas as a means to generate cash for the Boogaloo Bois/Boojahideen movement, including funding for recruitment and purchasing land for a training compound.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, Solomon and Teeter shared with the CHS, and another individual whom they believed to be a more senior member of Hamas (and who was actually an undercover employee of the FBI), the following:
Their ideas about destroying government monuments
Conducting raids on the headquarters of a white supremacist organization in North Carolina
Targeting politicians and members of the media.
Solomon and Teeter also expressed their ability to manufacture unmarked parts for guns and create unregistered and untraceable weapons, including suppressors.
On July 30, Solomon and Teeter delivered to the individual they believed to be a senior member of Hamas five suppressors and expressed their desire to manufacture additional suppressors and fully-automatic weapons for Hamas.
Solomon and Teeter later negotiated with the individual a price of $1,800 for five additional suppressors.
Solomon and Teeter also delivered to the individual a “drop in auto sear” (“DIAS”), a part designed and intended for use in converting a weapon to shoot automatically.
Solomon and Teeter believed the suppressors and the DIAS would be used by Hamas overseas to attack Israeli and U.S soldiers, according to court dcouments.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant Information:
Michael Robert Solomon, 30
New Brighton, Minn.
Charges:
- Conspiring and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (Hamas)
Benjamin Ryan Teeter, 22
Hampstead, N.C.
Charges:
- Conspiring and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (Hamas)