Wilmington Man Pleads Guilty to Mosque Threats, Child Porn Charges

BOSTON — Patrick Keogan, 44, of Wilmington, Massachusetts, admitted in federal court today to threatening to burn down a mosque, stockpiling an arsenal of illegal firearms, and possessing child pornography. Keogan pleaded guilty to two counts of making threats to damage or destroy a building by fire via Facebook, one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and one count of possessing child pornography. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in July 2016 and is scheduled for sentencing on May 15, 2017, before U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock.

The threats began surfacing on the Facebook page of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) in Roxbury following the November 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in Paris. Keogan posted an image of a burning mosque with the words, “Burn your local mosque,” accompanied by the message, “Hello scumbags,” and a smiley face emoji. He repeated the same post on the Islamic Society of Northeastern University’s (ISNU) Facebook page. Court documents reveal Keogan had long expressed extremist views online, including in 2013 when he praised the arson of a mosque in Joplin, Missouri, calling the unknown perpetrator an “unknown hero” and a “true God amongst mortal men.”

On November 17, 2015, Keogan escalated his rhetoric with a macabre post framing mosque burnings as a global competition. “Canada enters the Mosque Burning Winter Olympics of 2016 early!” he wrote. “Who will take the Gold? Who will take the Silver? and WHO will take the Bronze???… you (yes you) are a qualified competitor of your own nation—so get out there and help your Country be number one.” The post was shared with followers and flagged by users, prompting federal investigation.

Keogan’s digital footprint exposed more than hate speech. Authorities discovered he had been actively buying, selling, and modifying firearms despite being barred as a convicted felon. A GPS tracker on his car led agents to a New Hampshire gun store on May 1, 2016, where he purchased multiple boxes and loose bags of 8mm rifle ammunition. When federal agents raided his Wilmington residence in July 2016, they seized dozens of weapons—including light machine guns, assault rifles, and sniper rifles—along with thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Further forensic analysis of Keogan’s iPhone and iPad uncovered a trove of child pornography, leading to an additional federal charge. The investigation, conducted jointly by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement, revealed a pattern of violent extremism, illegal weapons trafficking, and exploitation of children—all orchestrated from a suburban home just outside Boston.

Keogan now faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each of the threat and firearms charges—each carrying up to $250,000 in fines, three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of all weapons. The child pornography charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, supervised release of five years to life, restitution, and asset forfeiture. While federal sentences often fall below statutory maximums, the combination of hate-fueled threats, illegal armament, and possession of child sexual abuse material paints a damning portrait of a man who weaponized both technology and violence. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

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