TULSA, OK – Coby Dale Green, 25, of Tulsa, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 60 months for the malicious use of explosive material, a charge stemming from a brazen and bigoted attack on the Donut Hole donut shop on Halloween night 2022. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell handed down the sentence yesterday, adding three years of supervised release and a hate crime enhancement to the punishment.
Security footage paints a grim picture. In the early hours of October 31st, Green was caught on camera plastering anti-LGBTQ flyers on a neighboring business before turning his rage towards the Donut Hole. He smashed the glass door with a baseball bat, then hurled a crude but dangerous incendiary device – a Molotov cocktail – inside. While the device didn’t fully explode, it still sparked a fire, causing damage to the beloved local eatery.
Federal investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) weren’t buying Green’s act. A search of his residence turned up a disturbing collection of “trophies” – multiple copies of news articles detailing the Donut Hole vandalism. An ATF Certified Fire Investigator noted that arsonists frequently retain mementos of their crimes. Investigators also recovered more anti-LGBTQ flyers, along with clothing matching what Green wore in the security footage and the lighter used to ignite the Molotov cocktail.
This wasn’t Green’s first dance with fire. Court records reveal he was previously arrested in Tulsa County for arson at a different restaurant back in 2021. That case was dismissed due to a no-show witness, a frustrating setback for local authorities. Investigators also unearthed reports of Green causing disturbances and distributing his hateful flyers at other LGBTQ-friendly businesses throughout the Tulsa area, painting a clear pattern of targeted harassment.
The sentencing is a victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, led by U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Christopher J. Nassar successfully prosecuted the case, bringing Green to justice for his hateful act. Green will remain in custody while awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.
The ATF and the Tulsa Fire Department jointly investigated the arson. This case serves as a stark reminder that acts of violence motivated by hate will not be tolerated, and those who commit such crimes will face the full force of federal law. The Donut Hole, a staple of the Tulsa community, remains open, a symbol of resilience in the face of bigotry.
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