Prescott man charged with selling firearms for shooting purposes

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — A Prescott man has been indicted for allegedly selling guns to individuals he said were planning to commit a violent hate crime at a concert in Atlanta.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona said Mark Prieto, 58, is charged with gun trafficking and transferring a firearm for use in a hate crime.

Over several months, the defendant allegedly corresponded with two individuals to hatch a plan involving the murder of minorities in a mass shooting intended to “incite a race war.” Prieto allegedly sold two rifles to one of the individuals earlier this year, prosecutors said.

Unbeknownst to him, both individuals were working for the FBI.

The mass shooting was scheduled to take place at a concert in May 2024. Prieto was arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 and authorities said they found several firearms in his possession.

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