Reno, Nev. - A Reno resident who claims to be the Leader of the Aryan Nations white supremacy group in Reno and San Francisco, was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury this morning for allegedly sending a threatening email to Reno and San Francisco newspapers, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

STEVEN J. HOLTEN, age 40, of Reno, is charged with one count of Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce, a felony offense. If convicted, he is facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. HOLTEN was arrested in Reno on September 22, 2004, following the filing of a criminal complaint in U.S. District Court in Reno. He has been in custody since that date.

According to the Indictment, on or about September 20, 2004, STEVEN J. HOLTEN, allegedly transmitted an email to recipients in Nevada and California, containing a threat to injure the person of others. The email stated, "As Aryan Nations of Nevada-Reno and San Francisco Aryan Nations Chapter State Leader I need to inform all you that Aryan Nations has designated the Reno Gazette and S.F. Chronicle and others, and anyone associated with as an Enemy of Aryan Nations. . . . The Jews are enemies of Aryan Nations. It is clear that all of you as employees of the Gazette, Chronicle, as well as Media, and Government representatives, along with the editors are supporters of the Jew Agenda in Reno and San Francisco. This will no longer be tolerated by Aryan Nations. We of Aryan Nations of Reno and San Francisco have a long history of publicly addressing our enemies and not backing down. This will continue. I urge all of you to resign from this parasite of newspapers and government and media. This statement by Aryan Nations IS intended as A Threat and simply to put all of you on notice that Aryan Nations of Reno and San Francisco are angry and will take necessary violent action. . . . We will not misstep. Victims do not speak. Victims have no representation. Victims cry-out to be found. Victims are enemies; Victims are useless; Aryan Nations have targeted specific individuals in Reno and San Francisco in the next (14) days beginning Monday, September 20, 2004, for violence. We have planned and are pursuing now success in carrying-out these actions. Our violent terrorist actions will be a shock to the citizens of Reno and San Francisco. It will be gruesome, and something that has never been seen in Reno and San Francisco-ever. We of Aryan Nations are angry, and we hate, and we kill . . . we do so in a matter that is very severe. We will continue this activity. We have a right to hate our enemies. We have a right to kill any enemy that is a threat to Aryan Nations. And we will do so. The holocaust for our enemies we have planned for Reno, Nevada, and San Francisco, California, will occur. We will be selective in our targets and timetable for action. . . . Death to All San Francisco, CA, and Reno, Nevada Rabbis!!".

The case against HOLTEN was initiated on September 21, 2004, when the FBI Office in Reno received a telephone call from the Reno Gazette Journal indicating that the Reno Gazette Journal and a number of other news agencies, city government offices and other offices received the threatening email described above. An investigation determined that the subscriber of the sender's email address was Steve Holten, 690 East Patriot Boulevard, Reno, Nevada, 89511.

HOLTEN is scheduled to be arraigned on the Indictment on Thursday, October 7, 2004, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. McQuaid, Jr.

The case was investigated by Special Agents with the FBI and Detectives with the Reno Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Pugliese.

The public is reminded that an Indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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