3 people indicted on charges related to fake hate crime

DENVER — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced on Tuesday that three people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for maliciously conveying false information about a threat made by means of fire.

According to the indictment, 35-year-old Derrick Bernard Jr., 40-year-old Ashley Blackcloud and 38-year-old Deanna West were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to spread disinformation by burning a cross in front of a campaign sign defaced with a racial slur. 

In 2023, the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election was between Yemi Mobolade, who is Black, and Wayne Williams, who is white. Mobolade won the runoff election. 

After the initial election, before the runoff, Bernard sent a message to the two women in which he explained he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother,” the indictment says. 

He also sent messages referencing a desire to prevent “the klan,” meaning the Ku Klux Klan, from gaining political control of the city, the indictment says.

Then the three worked together to stage a cross burning in front of a campaign sign for Mobolade that was defaced with a racial slur in red spray paint, the indictment says. It happened at a major intersection in the early hours of April 23, 2023. 

Afterwards, a phone was used to take a short video and picture of the scene. The video and photo were allegedly spread by the three to news outlets, nonprofit organizations, civic groups and Colorado government officials through email by an anonymous source to spread false information about the event, the indictment says.

There are no indications that Mobolade or his campaign were involved in the alleged crime.

The indictment alleges the email contained portions of a document, “Hate in Elections,” that West copied into the email, almost word-for-word.

Blackcloud made her initial appearance in Denver on Tuesday. Bernard is currently in state custody and is expected to make an appearance following a transfer into federal custody. West is a fugitive, prosecutors said.