Las Vegas, Nev. -  The man who transmitted a threatening and racist e-mail to the Program Director at KWID 101.9-FM (Wild 102), a local radio station, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Roger L. Hunt to nine months in prison for his guilty plea to Interstate Transmission of a Threatening Communication, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

According to the court records, on October 2, 2003, RYAN EDWARD LEWIS, age 18, of Las Vegas, sent an e-mail to the Program Director indicating it was from "Adolf Hitler" at lasvegasarayans@hotmail.com. The e-mail contained racial epitaphs and a threat to kill. The e-mail discussed White Power and ended with the statement, "watch your backs when you get off work because if we come, it is not to threaten, it is to KILL". FBI Agents were able to determine that the e-mail was sent from LEWIS' residence at 3875 Delaware Lane in Las Vegas.

On October 11, 2003, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officers were investigating a shooting of an African-American individual that had occurred in Las Vegas on September 24, 2003. Their investigation led them to the home of RYAN LEWIS. During a consent search of LEWIS' bedroom, officers found numerous items related to white supremacy, including a Nazi flag, the Turner Diaries, books re: explosives, and photographs of four individuals in front of the Nazi flag giving the Nazi salute. Officers also found a rifle and shotgun.

On October 14, 2003, LEWIS was arrested following the issuance of an Arrest Warrant and Probable Cause Complaint by a United States Magistrate Judge. He was indicted in United States District Court on October 28, 2003, and pleaded guilty on December 22, 2003.

LEWIS must serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison, and was ordered to serve 200 hours of community work service and to undergo substance abuse and mental health counseling.

LEWIS is also facing Attempted Murder charges in the 8th Judicial Court for Clark County, for the September 24, 2003 shooting. He is scheduled to go to trial on that matter on May 11, 2004.

"We take hate crimes very seriously in the District of Nevada, said U.S. Attorney Bogden. Our goal at the U.S. Attorney's Office is to ensure that all cases involving hate crime, particularly when victims are involved, are prosecuted vigorously and expeditiously. Legal actions, such as today's sentencing, send a strong message that making racially-motivated threats to individuals will not be tolerated by federal prosecutors in the District of Nevada."

This case is being investigated by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Gang Crimes Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sharon Lever.

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