3 faces federal indictment on allegations of orchestrating a hate crime hoax during the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral election

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Three people are now facing federal charges for allegedly staging a hate crime during the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral race.

In the early morning hours of April 23, 2023, a burning cross was found at the intersection of Union and Fillmore in front of a campaign sign for then-candidate Yemi Mobolade. The sign had been defaced with a racist insult.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado (USAOC) now says the entire scene was a hoax designed to give citizens the impression that there was a group of racists in Colorado Springs who were strongly opposed to a black mayoral candidate.

In a news release Tuesday, the USAOC announced that 35-year-old Derrick Bernard Jr., 40-year-old Ashley Blackcloud and 38-year-old Deanna West were indicted by a grand jury on charges of “maliciously communicating false information about…” a threat by fire” and “their alleged role in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about the threat.”

In the indictment obtained by 11 News, the USAOC says the trio began the conspiracy in early April 2023, the day after the announcement of a runoff election in the mayoral race, with Mobolade and Wayne Williams as the scheduled candidates. The indictment contained a series of emails allegedly from the three suspects:

(a) On or about April 5, 2023, the day after the mayoral election, BERNARD texted BLACKCLOUD that he wanted to speak “in person” because he “didn't talk on the phone about nothing that's going to happen” and that “Ima Just talk to you about some plans.”

(b) On or about April 13, 2023, BERNARD sent a Facebook message to CANDIDATE 1: “I know it's crisis time, sir, but look…” . . I spoke to some of my friends in other places and with them [sic] an action in the middle. . . I mobilize my squadron for defense and the final push. Black Ops style big brother. The Klan must not be allowed to rule this city again.”

(c) On or about April 13, 2023, BERNARD sent a series of Facebook messages to BLACKCLOUD. Among other things, BERNARD said to BLACKCLOUD: “I cannot allow the Klan to take back the city.”[CANDIDATE 1] really already won. They make a few B's [sic] Run away now because they are not trying to let an African win” and “I have a plan. . . .”

The indictment then accuses the three of destroying one of Mobolade's campaign songs and then deliberately placing a cross in front of it and setting it on fire. Investigators allegedly later recovered spray paint from one of the suspects' cars.

On or about April 23, 2023, between approximately 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., BERNARD, BLACKCLOUD and WEST worked together to place a wooden cross in front of this campaign sign. Red spray paint was used to write, resembling a can later found in the passenger compartment of BLACKCLOUD's car [a racial slur] on the sign. The wooden cross was then set on fire. A short video of the scene was recorded with an iPhone 13 and a photo was taken.

The indictment then states that the photo and video were shared with media outlets:

(e) On approximately the same day, later in the evening of April 23, 2023, BLACKCLOUD and WEST collaborated to send an email… to local news stations, among others. The above photo and video were attached to the email. Several news organizations published news of the cross burning.

…

(b) On or about April 23, 2023, at approximately 3:52 a.m., BLACKCLOUD used Instagram to send a message to WEST: “Hey, did you get back okay?”

(c) On or about April 23, 2023, between approximately 1:53 p.m. and 7:42 p.m., BLACKCLOUD conducted online searches of 15 of the 24 organizations that received the … email and conducted searches such as “kkk -Email,” “Contact Us” by Messages About a Story,” and “News Colorado Springs.”

(d) On or about April 23, 2023, between approximately 7:18 p.m. and 7:24 p.m., WEST conducted web searches for, for example, “Racist Acts Complaint Letter” and “Candidates’ Racist Acts During the Campaign.” (e) On or about April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:24 p.m., WEST used the Internet to access a document entitled “Hate in Elections” and the subtitle “How Racism and Bigotry is Affecting Election Integrity in the United States “threaten” access.

…

(j) On or about April 25, 2023, at approximately 7:56 p.m., BERNARD used Facebook Messenger to send BLACKCLOUD a link to a local news report about the burning of the cross.

(k) On or about April 25, 2023, at approximately 7:56 p.m., BERNARD texted BLACKCLOUD: “Check your messenger asap” and “We are successful.”

Both Mobolade and Williams strongly condemned the portrayal at the time.

According to the USAOC, Bernard, Blackcloud and West were charged after a lengthy investigation by the FBI and Colorado Springs police. Blackcloud made his first appearance in federal court on Tuesday, and Bernard is expected to follow suit after he is transferred from state custody to federal custody.

West has not been located.

Copyright 2024 KKTV. All rights reserved.