As 21-year-old River William Smith faces sentencing for the illegal acquisition of machine gun conversion devices, federal prosecutors are intensifying their push for an extended prison term. Smith, a resident of the Twin Cities, was exposed by an undercover FBI informant, and authorities are now pointing to his extremist ideologies and expressed willingness to engage in deadly conflicts with law enforcement as grounds for a proposed decade-long sentence.
Photo from Google
Federal Prosecutors Argue Extremist Ideologies Warrant Extended Sentence
Federal prosecutors are vehemently urging a severe sentence for River William Smith, emphasizing not only his criminal actions but also his disturbing extremist beliefs. Having been found guilty of purchasing illegal machine gun conversion devices from an undercover FBI informant, Smith’s case takes a chilling turn as prosecutors contend that his expressed interest in violent confrontations with law enforcement justifies a substantial 10-year prison term.
The prosecution’s argument is supported by the array of weaponry discovered during Smith’s arrest in December 2022. The young man was found in possession of two illegal machine gun conversion devices, a loaded Glock handgun, an assault-style rifle, three inert hand grenades, and almost 1,000 rounds of ammunition. This arsenal, coupled with Smith’s alarming statements endorsing violence against law enforcement, the LGBTQ community, and Muslims, forms the basis for the government’s call for an extended sentence.
Revelations surrounding Smith’s support for Nazi paramilitary groups and his advocacy for mass killings heighten the severity of the case. Prosecutors highlight Smith’s disturbing admiration for an attacker involved in a Colorado LGBTQ nightclub shooting, underscoring the potential danger he poses to society. The courtroom now grapples with the decision on whether Smith’s extremist leanings should significantly impact the length of his imprisonment.
READ ALSO: Hattiesburg Resident Arrested For Alleged Home Invasion
Defense Paints Picture of Nonviolent Video Game Enthusiast Lured by FBI Informant
In contrast to the prosecution’s portrayal of River William Smith as a dangerous extremist, his defense attorney contends that he is a nonviolent video game enthusiast who fell victim to entrapment by an FBI informant. Despite Smith’s guilty plea to the charge of illegally possessing a machine gun, his legal representation advocates for a significantly shorter 18-month prison sentence.
Smith’s defense emphasizes his lack of a violent criminal record, arguing that his interest in weaponry and extremist ideologies was merely a manifestation of fascination with video game content. The defense attorney criticizes the government’s request for a 10-year sentence as “outrageous,” emphasizing that Smith had never translated his interests into real-world violence. The court is left to weigh these contrasting narratives as it navigates the complex sentencing decision, with the community and law enforcement closely monitoring the outcome.
READ ALSO: LA County Sheriff’s Swift Action: Multiple Arrests Made In Compton Bakery Burglary
