WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Two Portland, Ore., residents described as white supremacists were charged in a "horrendous" crime spree that included four deaths, a U.S. attorney said Friday.
David Joseph Pedersen, 32, and Holly Ann Grigsby, 25, were indicted Thursday on charges of using a firearm in a crime of violence that caused death, kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, racketeering conspiracy, transportation of stolen vehicles, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Amanda Marshall, the U. S. attorney for the District of Oregon, said in a release.
The charges arise from an alleged 10-day crime spree from Everett, Wash., to Eureka, Calif., last year, Marshall said.
"The indictment in this case alleges horrendous crimes were committed as part of defendants' white-supremacist campaign to kidnap and murder targets on the basis of race, color, religion and perceived "degenerate" conduct," Marshall said. "These crimes victimize not only individuals and their families, but entire communities."
The indictment charges that Pedersen and Grigsby belonged to an organization whose members and associates committed acts of violence and criminal activity to promote a white supremacist movement to "purify" and "preserve" the white race.
Among other things, Pedersen and Grigsby allegedly robbed victims to finance the enterprise and get cars for transportation, and killed victims -- including Pedersen's father and stepmother -- to eliminate witnesses and avoid apprehension and prosecution, investigators said.
"No one should live in fear of being attacked because of their race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability," Marshall said.
