A Wilmington man was sentenced to five years in prison for making threatening posts on Facebook to burn a local mosque and for illegally possessing dozens of firearms and child pornography.
BOSTON – Patrick Keogan, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. Keogan will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Keogan pleaded guilty in February 2017 to two counts of making a threat over Facebook to injure or intimidate another individual or to unlawfully damage or destroy a building by means of fire; one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; and one count of possessing child pornography.
The threat was made following the terrorist attacks in Paris, France, on Nov. 13, 2015. Keogan posted an image depicting a mosque in flames with superimposed lettering that stated, “BURN YOUR LOCAL MOSQUE,” along with the statement, “Hello scumbags,” next to a smiley face emoji.
Searches of Keogan’s Facebook account revealed multiple posts that approved of burning mosques as early as 2013. For example, in 2013 Keogan shared a post with the following summary: “On July 4th, Joplin, Missouri’s Islamic Center — the city’s only mosque — suffered roof damage after an unidentified man set it on fire by tossing a burning object onto the building.” Keogan wrote in response: “Somewhere out there is an unknown hero. The people’s champion. A true God amongst mortal men. May your days be many & troubles be few my good man.”
Keogan’s Facebook account also showed that he had been buying, selling, trading, building, modifying, possessing, and shooting firearms and ammunition, despite his prohibition from doing so as a convicted felon. On May 1, 2016, Keogan purchased two boxes of 8mm rifle ammunition and two bags of loose 8mm rifle ammunition at a gun store in New Hampshire.
Upon Keogan’s arrest in July 2016, authorities searched his residence and found light machine guns, assault rifles, and sniper rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. A search of Keogan’s iPhone and iPad revealed he was also in possession of child pornography.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, and Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begonis made the announcement today.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott L. Garland of Lelling’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team prosecuted the case.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Patrick Keogan, Charges: Two counts of making a threat over Facebook, One count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, One count of possessing child pornography, City and State: Wilmington, Massachusetts, Date: 2017, Sentence: Five years in prison and five years of supervised release, Registration as a sex offender required.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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