SAN DIEGO – -(AmmoLand.com)- Grey Zamudio, a San Diego resident who has expressed racist and violent extremist sentiments on social media, was sentenced in federal court today to 24 months in custody for possessing a short barrel rifle and two silencers, none of which was registered as required by law.
Zamudio pleaded guilty on December 1, 2020, to all three counts of possession of an unregistered rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches and two unregistered silencers in violation of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Act.
As the government noted at Zamudio’s detention hearing in this matter, “There are really no legitimate uses for silencers, other than to kill people. They are not used in hunting. They are not used for recreation purposes.”
The government’s sentencing memorandum notes that the circumstances of Zamudio’s crimes underscore the danger that he continues to pose to the public. The memo said Zamudio is motivated by a violent ideology and appears eager to commit acts of violence against Black people, liberals, and others. The FBI was alerted to Zamudio by a tipster who viewed his social media posts, which included statements about “the need for ‘vigilante militias’” and “to crush the liberal terrorists” and that Zamudio was “ready to die” for his beliefs. These statements, together with the allegation that Zamudio had multiple firearms, were apparently so alarming that they led the tipster to share this information with the FBI, which then led to further investigation, including court authorization to search Zamudio’s telephone.
“This defendant has demonstrated a very troubling violent ideology, an intent to harm people, a lack of remorse, and a willingness to illegally possess firearms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “For these reasons, he continues to pose a threat to public safety.”
Grossman commended the work of prosecutors Timothy F. Salel and Jonathan I. Shapiro as well as the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including FBI and ATF agents and San Diego Police Department detectives and officers who worked on this matter. Grossman also urged anyone with information about similar threats made on social media to report it to authorities.
According to the complaint, on August 1, 2020, agents executed federal court-authorized search warrants on Zamudio’s apartment and truck. During the search of the apartment, agents seized two silencers and the short barrel rifle. As the FBI executed the court-authorized search, the San Diego Police Department served Zamudio with a California State Gun Violence Restraining Order (“GVRO”) based on recent threats of violence in numerous social media posts by Zamudio. Pursuant to the GVRO, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) seized another rifle (in addition to the short barrel rifle seized by the agents), two pistols, a large number of magazines, and several hundred to several thousand rounds of ammunition.
The sentencing memo said Zamudio’s text messages provide a window into his motivations and intentions. In one text dated June 5, 2020, Zamudio apparently boasted about getting ’to pull my Glock on a n**** (racial epithet) last Thurs…” On July 30, 2020, two days before his arrest in this matter, Zamudio posted a screenshot of a Tweet in which he stated, “They trying to dox me lol. I’m really hoping to get to kill someone finally.’” A couple of weeks earlier, on June 13, 2020, the Zamudio texted, “Tomorrow they gunna riot in la mesa again, wanna join the Patriots an smash on some BLM?”
The review of the Zamudio’s phone led to the prosecution of Cody Richard Griggers, now a former deputy sheriff in Georgia. Zamudio and Griggers exchanged messages on a Facebook group. In one exchange, Griggers indicated his desire to use his status as a law enforcement officer to get flashbangs and entry charges, and Zamudio responded, “’yeah I’ll pay big money for bang and boom . . . I’m ready to terrorize la.”
Violent ideology and illegal firearms are a dangerous combination. According to the sentencing memo, in a January 19, 2019, response to texts about how to improve the country, Zamudio wrote, “Assassinate the bad politians (sic), i feel as though we are protected under the Constitution to do so.”
“Mr. Zamudio’s violent, threatening posts on social media led to serious concern for the safety of those who wished to exercise their first amendment right of peaceful protest, and I’m proud we were able to intervene so quickly,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “Thanks to a tip from the public, the San Diego FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force mitigated the threat within 72 hours. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will use all available tools to detect and disrupt threats which put our communities in danger. This case demonstrates the importance of the public immediately reporting any suspicious activity or threats they encounter to enable law enforcement to act quickly.”
“This investigation is a great example of cooperation between law enforcement agencies to keep our communities safe,” said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. “I want to thank the officers, detectives, and agents who worked together on this case to prevent a potential act of gun violence.”
SUMMARY OF CHARGES Case Number 20CR2451
Grey Zamudio Age: 33
Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5861(d), 5845(a)(3), 5845(a)(7), and 5871 – Receipt and Possession of Firearms (One Short Barrel Rifle and Two Silencers) in Violation of the National Firearms
Registration and Transfer Act
Maximum Penalty: Ten years in prison, $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
- Joint Terrorism Task Force
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- San Diego Police Department
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.
“They are not used in hunting.”
Actually, some European hunters are REQUIRED to use a suppressor.
The statement by the government of The Peoples Republik of Kalifornia concerning supressors in this case is truly indicative of how stupid they really are! Whoever is responsible for the statement that supressors have no legitimate use other than to kill people is indicative of a bias that has no basis in fact. I use mine for hunting and recreational shooting all of the time and so do most other people who own them. They also obviate the need for hearing protection, which is a tremendous advantage. It is no wonder that Kalifornia is so screwed up!!!
Shocker : the gov lied and claimed without evidence that suppressors are not used in hunting or recreational sports. Incompetent And Ignorant gov employees.
In his own defense he has proven to be innocent. Exactly who did he shoot ? Hell he didn’t even take his own life as stated. Free Speech is a right to all. Whether you like what he says or not. Until he acts he is innocent. Peaceful protest include burning, destruction of private property & trampling on another rights ? Where were those arrest ?
Good heavens, is the judge totally out of touch. > There are really no legitimate uses for silencers, other than to kill people. They are not used in hunting. They are not used for recreation purposes.” The hell they aren’t. One of the people featured on “Life Below Zero” lives in the Brooks Range in Alaska where his nearest neighbor is more than 40 miles away (he walks everywhere). The last few years he spent on the show, his rifle aways had a noise suppressor. How many hunters in the lower 48? I don’t know, but occasional articles suggest that… Read more »
Something else I just noticed in there to unpack:
“There are really no legitimate uses for silencers, other than to kill people.”
Whatever government employee wrote this thinks that killing people IS a legitimate use! That is exactly what that sentence says. A Freudian slip? Screwed up and told the truth…. for once?
FUCK THE ATF, their families and the people that support them!
why does Ammoland take their bullshit propaganda pieces?
NOT OUR FRIENDS, Period!
what a load of CRAPOLA atf needs to be gone suppressors have no use but to kill????? I have only seen 1 or tow you could kill someone with they would have to be long and hard to break a skull a pencil in the ear or eye is easier As the government noted at Zamudio’s detention hearing in this matter, “There are really no legitimate uses for silencers, other than to kill people. They are not used in hunting. They are not used for recreation purposes.” the two things people would like to use them for government says no… Read more »
Under the governments reasoning about silencers I guess I will never have to buy another muffler for my truck as it serves no purpose according to them, think that will stand up in court.
Trump’s many things, but he’s no racist or bigot.