A Twin Cities man has admitted to buying gun parts from an undercover FBI informant allegedly in preparation for the mass killing of police.
River W. Smith, 21, of Savage, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis to illegal possession of a machine gun in connection with allegations that he bought three inert grenades and three auto sear devices that could convert pistols into fully automatic weapons.
As part of the plea filing, the prosecution has said it intends to have dismissed a charge of attempting to receive or possess unregistered destructive devices.
Smith remains in federal custody in the Sherburne County jail. His sentencing has yet to be scheduled.
Prosecutors have linked Smith to a desire to join Nazi paramilitary groups and threats against law enforcement and the LGBTQ community.
According to court documents:
Smith's peaceful arrest occurred in Savage in December, when he was wearing soft armor and possessed a loaded Glock handgun with a bullet in the chamber and additional magazines. Afterward, agents recovered from his vehicle an AR-style rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition in magazines, body armor, ballistic helmets with goggles and plates, edged weapons for fighting in close quarters, targets and a battle belt.
When agents searched his home that same day, they found firearms and a "Black Sun" flag near Smith's bedroom that prosecutors say is affiliated with neo-Nazi groups.