ATLANTA — A federal grand jury indicted an Arizona man Tuesday who is accused of attempting to plot a mass shooting at an Atlanta concert, according to a news release from the Department of Justice and the grand jury federal indictment.
Mark Adams Prieto, 58, faces charges, including two counts of firearms trafficking, transfer of a firearm for use in a crime of violence, and possession of an unregistered firearm, the indictment states.
According to the DOJ's release, he was hoping the act would “incite a race war prior to the 2024 United States Presidential Election."
The indictment alleges Prieto was believed to be targeting a concert in Atlanta on May 14 and 15. It added that Prieto expected "large numbers of African Americans and other minorities to attend."
The biggest concert in the area on those dates was Bad Bunny's concert at the State Farm Arena.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been investigating Prieto since October 2023, when a “confidential human source” (CHS) reported hearing Prieto speak about his intentions for violence, according to the criminal complaint from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
The source had spoken with Prieto multiple times; he reported him after “Prieto began making suspicious and alarming comments, including advocating for a mass shooting, and specifically targeting ‘blacks, Jews, or Muslims,’” the complaint stated.
According to the indictment, the FBI claims Prieto spoke in detail about his plans to the confidential source and an undercover FBI agent at multiple Arizona gun shows between January 2024 and Prieto's arrest in May 2024. Prieto also sold two rifles, including an AK-style rifle, to the individuals working with the FBI and told them which ones they should use at the time of the shooting, the DOJ's release stated.
"Prieto did not know the individuals were working with the government, but instead believed that they shared his racist beliefs and wanted to commit a mass shooting to incite a race war," the DOJ added in the release.
The criminal complaint included photos of Prieto. The one below is from when the FBI conducted surveillance as he arrived at a gun show in Phoenix, Arizona in Feb. 2024.
The complaint alleges that while he was there he found the CHS's vendor booth and asked if it was "still a go for the attack."
According to the DOJ, law enforcement took Prieto into custody in New Mexico on May 14 as he was driving toward the east coast. Upon searching his car, authorities found he had seven firearms in his possession. Authorities later searched his home in Arizona, revealing more weapons and ammunition, the DOJ said.
If convicted, the DOJ said Prieto faces up to 15 years in prison for the firearms trafficking and transfer of a firearm for use in a hate crime carries charges, including a fine of $250,000 or both for each charge. Additionally, the DOJ said Prieto faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine for the possession of an unregistered firearm charge.