PRESCOTT, Ariz. — A Prescott man has been indicted for allegedly selling guns to individuals he believed were planning to carry out a violent hate crime at an Atlanta concert.
The U.S. Attorney's Office of Arizona said Mark Prieto, 58, is accused of firearms trafficking and transferring a firearm for use in a hate crime.
Over the course of several months, the defendant allegedly corresponded with two individuals to devise a plan involving the killing of minorities in a mass shooting to "incite a race war." Prieto allegedly sold two rifles to one of the individuals earlier this year, prosecutors said.
Unbeknownst to him, the two individuals were working with the FBI.
The mass shooting was planned to occur at a concert in May 2024. Prieto was detained during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 and officials reported finding multiple firearms in his possession.
UP TO SPEED
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
