USA v. Belanger, Matthew
Honolulu, HI

Anti-Semitism

Matthew Belanger is accused of leading a neo-Nazi group that was alleged to have been planning an attack on a New York synagogue. Belanger, while serving as a Marine in Honolulu, paid a police officer on Long Island, New York, to buy him guns that he wouldn't be allowed to buy legally. The FBI began investigating Belanger because it suspected he was planning to harm people and destroy property in hate-motivated attacks, according to court documents filed this month. "The investigation was grounded in evidence that defendant was using social media to conspire with others, including members of a group called Rapekrieg, to commit ... hate crimes," the documents said. The group, based on Long Island, "had procured weapons, uniforms, and tactical gear, and discussed committing attacks on a synagogue, Jewish persons, women, and minorities, including the rape of 'enemies' to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate, and the rape of white women to increase the production of white children in furtherance of Rapekrieg's goal of creating a white ethno-state through accelerationist means." Other members of the group identified Belanger as a leader and administrator of the group who had written Rapekrieg's manifesto.