Patrik Jordan Mathews (born 1993) is a Canadian white supremacist and former Armed Forces Reserve combat engineer.[2] In 2021, he was sentenced in the United States to 9 years in prison for criminal activities connected to The Base, a neo-Nazi and far-right accelerationist group that has been described as terrorist organization.[3][4]
Patrik Jordan Mathews | |
|---|---|
| Born | Patrik Jordan Mathews 1993 (age 30–31) |
| Occupation | Former combat engineer |
| Years active | 2011–2019 |
| Organization(s) | The Base Atomwaffen Division[1] |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Conviction(s) | Being an alien in possession of a firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922) Being an alien in possession of ammunition (U.S.C. § 922) Being an alien in possession of ammunition (18 U.S.C. § 922) Transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony (U.S.C. § 922) Transporting ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony (U.S.C. § 922) Obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1519) |
| Criminal penalty | 9 years imprisonment |
Career
editMathews served eight years in the Canadian Armed Forces as a combat engineer in the 38 Canadian Brigade Group and held the rank of Master corporal.[5] He was discharged from the military after his ties to The Base were revealed in 2019.[6]
Arrest
editIn 2019, Mathews was exposed as a member of The Base through evidence found by Winnipeg Free Press journalist Ryan Thorpe.[7] On August 19, 2019, the RCMP obtained a search warrant at his home in Beausejour, Manitoba where they seized guns.[8] In July 2019, the Canadian Armed Forces launched an investigation.[9][10] Mathews went missing on August 24, 2019.[11] His truck was found abandoned in Piney, Manitoba.[12] On January 16, 2020, Mathews was arrested in Delaware by the FBI.[13][14] Mathews along with two other men who were also arrested were believed to be planning to attend the 2020 VCDL Lobby Day rally in Richmond, Virginia.[15] In October 2021, Mathews was sentenced to 9 years in an American prison for his role in The Base, including allegedly plotting a mass killing. Also sentenced to 9 years in prison was former U.S. Army soldier and Iraq War veteran Brian Mark Lemley, an American friend of Mathews and fellow neo-Nazi who'd assisted him.[16][17][18] As of February 2022, Mathews is serving his sentence at United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute in Indiana, his projected release date is September 16, 2027.[19]
References
edit- ^ "Encyclopedia of hate: A look at the neo-Nazi militant movements with roots in Canada". CTV News. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
Several Canadian military members have been accused of having ties to AWD, including Master Cpl. Patrik Matthews, a reservist who went missing in August after being relieved of his duties. It was suspected that Matthews was a recruiter for the neo-Nazi group.
- ^ "Search underway for Canadian army reservist suspected of links to neo-Nazi group". StarTribune. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Neo-Nazi Terror Group Harbouring Missing Ex-Soldier: Sources". VICE news. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Koduvayur, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Varsha. "America Drops the Ball on White Supremacist Terrorist Groups". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Patrik Mathews: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Sheriff: Missing Canadian Soldier Patrik Mathews, Linked To White Supremacist Network, May Be In Minnesota - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
- ^ "Police Warn that Accused Neo-Nazi Canadian Soldier Could Have Fled to U.S." VICE news. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "'Hands in the air': RCMP raid home of army reservist accused of ties with neo-Nazi group". CBC news. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "White supremacist in army reserve". Winnipeg Free Press. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Top general says military started dealing with suspected neo-Nazi in the spring". Lethbridge News. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "American police warned former Manitoba army reservist likely crossed border". CBC news. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Truck of former reservist with alleged neo-Nazi ties found near U.S.-Canada border". CBC news. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "FBI arrests 3 alleged white supremacists. They planned to attend Virginia pro-gun rally, official says". CNN. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "FBI arrest former Canadian reservist, suspected neo-Nazi, in United States". CTV news. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "FBI arrests 3 alleged white supremacists ahead of gun rally". New York Post. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Manitoba ex-reservist, neo-Nazi member Patrik Mathews gets nine years in prison". 28 October 2021.
- ^ "District of Maryland | Two Members of the Violent Extremist Group "The Base" Each Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Firearms and Alien-Related Charges | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ Kunzelman, Michael. "'Terrorism enhancement': Two neo-Nazi group members sentenced to 9 years in prison". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ^ "Inmate Locator". www.bop.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-06.