Fred Arena, False Statements, Pennsylvania 2026

Fred Arena, a 41-year-old man from Salem, New Jersey, has been arrested and charged with making false statements to government agents, according to a recent indictment.

Arena, who works at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, was required to obtain a security clearance for his employment. However, the indictment alleges that he lied on the standard Form SF-86 to obtain the clearance, claiming that he had not been a member of an organization that uses or advocates the use of force or violence to prevent others from exercising their constitutional rights.

In fact, Arena was an avowed member of Vanguard America, a white supremacist group that fits this description. He also falsely claimed that he had not had property repossessed within the past seven years, when in reality, he had previously defaulted on a car loan and had his car repossessed.

Arena’s lies were discovered by federal investigators, who questioned him about his answers on the security clearance paperwork. The indictment alleges that he lied to investigators about his affiliation with Vanguard America and his history of property repossession.

“Lying on federal security clearance forms and to government agents will land you in big trouble,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. “Further, the nature of the defendant’s alleged lies – attempting to conceal his affiliation with a white supremacist group in order to obtain federal employment – is extremely disturbing.”

Arena faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $1,250,000 fine if convicted.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph LaBar and Martha Nye are prosecuting the case.

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