ALEXANDRIA, VA – Hatchet Speed, 41, of Falls Church, Virginia, was sentenced to three years in federal prison today for illegally possessing unregistered silencers. The sentencing follows an investigation revealing Speed’s extensive firearm purchases and disturbing embrace of violent ideologies, raising serious questions about the potential for politically motivated violence.
Court documents detail a spending spree beginning in early 2021, with Speed dropping over $40,000 on at least twelve firearms, accessories, and ammunition. This buying binge began shortly after Speed participated in the January 6th incursion at the U.S. Capitol. Investigators believe Speed anticipated a coming civil war and openly discussed the need for political violence, fueling his arsenal buildup.
The core of the case revolved around three silencers Speed purchased in March 2021, deceptively marketed as “solvent traps” intended for firearm cleaning. However, these devices were explicitly designed to function as silencers, bypassing the strict federal registration requirements outlined in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Speed took possession of the illegal suppressors within a week of purchase, circumventing the law.
The investigation deepened in early 2022 when Speed engaged with an undercover FBI employee. During these meetings, a chilling picture emerged of Speed’s extremist beliefs. He openly expressed anti-Semitic and anti-government views, and discussed plans for violent action to advance his ideologies. Speed even praised the tactics of jihadists, suggesting they could be used to “wipe out” his perceived opposition – specifically, Jewish people.
Speed described a disturbing process of identifying potential targets, considering a “mock trial” to determine who would be added to “the list.” Crucially, he confirmed to the undercover agent that his unregistered “solvent traps” – the silencers – would be instrumental in carrying out these plans. This direct connection between the illegal weapons and his violent intentions solidified the case against him.
The sentencing was announced jointly by U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael H. Glasheen, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Weddel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Traxler and Amanda Lowe prosecuted the case. Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff handed down the three-year sentence. Case number 1:22-cr-165 is available on PACER and the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.
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