2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after base robbery were ex-military, prosecutors say

SEATTLE -- Two men arrested successful Washington authorities with an arsenal that included grenade launchers and assemblage armor, on with Nazi paraphernalia, were erstwhile subject members who attacked a worker with a hammer portion stealing cogwheel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord past weekend, investigators say.

Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday nighttime astatine their location successful Lacey, adjacent Olympia, according to a transgression ailment filed Wednesday successful U.S. District Court. Federal tribunal records did not database an lawyer for either man.

One of the defendants told investigators they had been stealing instrumentality from the basal for the past 2 years to merchantability oregon trade, and agents recovered astir $24,000 successful currency astatine the home, wrote Special Agent Christopher J. Raguse of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

The national ailment charges them with robbery, battle and theft of authorities property. They besides look probe connected authorities charges of unlawful possession of incendiary devices, short-barreled rifles and a instrumentality gun. Each was being held astatine the Pierce County Jail connected $500,000 bail.

According to the complaint, a worker entered a gathering astatine the Army Ranger compound astatine Joint Base Lewis-McChord connected Sunday nighttime and recovered 2 men, partially masked, with a clump of U.S. Army spot astir them. The worker questioned them astir what they were doing and told them to propulsion down their masks, which they did.

A combat ensued, and 1 of the men brandished a hammer and struck the worker successful the head. The worker continued to combat contempt losing a ample magnitude of humor and managed to get power of the hammer — astatine which point, 1 of the men pulled a knife. The worker past fto them go, the ailment said.

During the fight, 1 of the men dropped his hat. It said “Fields” connected the inside. Using basal introduction logs and surveillance video, investigators determined that Fields and Frakes had entered Lewis-McChord unneurotic astir an hr earlier the attack, investigators said.

Additionally, the wounded soldier, who required infirmary treatment, told investigators that helium asked astir his portion astir the sanction Fields aft uncovering it connected the hat. The worker learned that Fields had been assigned to the Ranger Battalion astir 2021, and helium was capable to place him arsenic 1 of the attackers based connected photos shown to him by others successful his unit, the ailment said.

The ailment did not see details of Frakes' subject service.

The FBI executed a hunt warrant astatine a location shared by the defendants connected Monday and arrested them. Agents recovered rifles positioned astatine the upstairs windows, the ailment said.

Authorities said agents seized astir 35 firearms astatine the home, including abbreviated tube rifles and an MG42 instrumentality weapon — a benignant typically supported with a bipod and which was utilized by German troops during World War II.

Other seized cogwheel included grenade launchers, Army-issued explosives, assemblage armor, ammunition and ballistic helmets, authorities said.

Photos from wrong the location showed Nazi paraphernalia, including a reddish Nazi emblem emblazoned with a achromatic swastika.