Aryan leader charged with sending e-mail threats

RENO, Nevada (AP) — The self-proclaimed leader of the Aryan Nation in Nevada was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for allegedly sending threatening e-mails to newspapers in Reno and San Francisco.

Steven Holten, 40, once described by a police official as a “one-man Aryan Nation,” faces arraignment Thursday on one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The charge carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A call to Holten’s attorney was not immediately returned.

Investigators said Holten sent a mass e-mail September 20 to the Reno Gazette-Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle targeting them as an “enemy” of the white-supremacist group.

Holten says the nation opposes Jews, minorities, homosexuals, federal and local law enforcement officials, drug dealers, the media and anyone against white supremacy.

Holten, who has Nazi SS lightning bolts tattooed on his neck, was arrested after authorities intercepted the alleged threats by tracing an e-mail, according to Police Chief Jim Weston.

Although Holten has sent e-mails to various Jewish and minority groups and to the Reno City Council, police said the messages did not meet the legal standard to be considered a terrorist threat — until last month.

“We will not misstep. Victims do not speak,” the e-mail said. “Our terrorist actions will be a shock to the citizens of Reno and San Francisco.”

In a complaint, the FBI alleged that in a September 22 interview Holten said he sent the threatening e-mail, had recently bought a .38-caliber handgun and that his apartment served as the meeting place for the Nevada Aryan Nations chapter.

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