USA v. Pietela, Seann
Pickford, MI

Anti-Semitism

[WDMI] A grand jury returned an indictment against Seann Pietila of Pickford, Michigan for violent threats he made online. Pietila allegedly communicated via Instagram about planning to commit acts of violence to kill other people. He also allegedly sent messages about neo-nazism, antisemitism, glorification of past mass shooters, and a desire and intent to mimic past mass shooters.

Pietela was alleged in a complaint to have communicated with others on Instagram and evinced a neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism, glorification of past mass shooters, and a desire and intent to mimic past mass shooters or mass casualty events. Pietela allegedly communicated about planning to commit acts of violence to kill other people. Pietela's home was searched and law enforcement seized ammunition, magazines, a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol, various knives, firearms accessories, tactical vests, mask, a Nazi flag, a ghillie suit, gas masks, and military sniper/survival manuals. Also seized was Pietela's phone, and in the notes app, he had identified a particular synagogue in East Lansing, a date, and a list of equipment.