Former military individuals nabbed with a substantial arsenal and Nazi memorabilia following a base robbery, according to prosecutors' statements.
Two Washington State Ex-Soldiers Busted
Here's the lowdown on the recent bust of Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields in Lacey, near Olympia.
These two former military members found themselves in hot water last week when they were nabbed for a string of crimes. The arrest occurred on Monday night and was followed by a search warrant executed by the FBI at their shared home.
The Arrest and Charges
Frakes and Fields were slapped with charges of robbery, assault, and theft of government property. They were remanded to the Thurston County Jail, with a $500,000 bond each, pending investigation [1][2].
The Alleged Crimes
These ex-soldiers are accused of stealing military equipment worth around $14,000 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The haul included body armor, ballistic helmets, and communications equipment. During an attempt to snatch more goods on Sunday, they assaulted a soldier with a hammer, causing severe injury [3].
Seized Items
Upon searching their residence, authorities uncovered a sizeable collection of firearms, including short-barreled rifles and an MG42 machine gun - a type used extensively by German forces during World War II. Also seized were grenade launchers, 3D-printed silencers, Army-issued explosives such as smoke grenades and blasting caps, ballistic plates, helmets, and night-vision devices [1][2].
Nazi Paraphernalia
The dwelling bore disturbing evidence of white supremacist leanings, with Nazi memorabilia adorning the walls. This included a red Nazi flag sporting a black swastika and a black SS flag, echoing the Schutzstaffel, a notorious Nazi paramilitary organization [1][2].
Business and Training Venture
Frakes and Fields operated a company called Sovereign Solutions. This business catered to military personnel, advertising high-quality training and equipment under the banner "Quality Training and Equipment for the Modern Warfighter." Their company logo resembled the SS insignia of the Nazi SS, complete with a lightning bolt motif [1].
A Warning Sign
Earlier in the day of their arrest, the wounded soldier underwent a medical evaluation and spoke with investigators. He shared that he had inquired within his unit about the name Fields once he discovered it on their hat, which they'd dropped during the scuffle. The soldier learned that Fields had once been assigned to the Ranger Battalion and was able to identify him from pictures shown by others in his unit [3].
Enrichment Insights:
- Incident occurred in Washington state, specifically in Lacey, near Olympia.
- The two men were veterans and former military members.
- Frakes allegedly admitted to stealing equipment from the base for two years.
- Agents found about $24,000 in cash at the home.
- The two are also under investigation for unlawful possession of incendiary devices, short-barreled rifles, and a machine gun.
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- The recent incident involving the arrest of Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields, two former soldiers in Washington State, is a hot topic in the general news, particularly in war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice sections due to their alleged theft of military equipment and assorted charges.
- The ongoing investigation into Frakes and Fields, the ex-soldiers arrested in Lacey, near Olympia, uncovers connections between politics and their alleged crimes, as their company, Sovereign Solutions, mimicked the notorious Nazi SS insignia and they were found with Nazi paraphernalia in their residence, raising concerns about white supremacist leanings.
