Five members or associates of an alleged neo-Nazi, white supremacist group known as the Connecticut White Wolves have been indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of conspiring to sell guns and homemade hand grenades to what they thought was a similar group out of state.
The group, also known as Battalion 14, is believed to have been formed in the southern part of the state within the past decade by a collection of young, self-professed “skinheads.” More recently, the group has attracted the attention of civil rights groups because of its recruiting efforts and its involvement in disruptive and violent acts.
One of those indicted is black. His lawyer said the man was not a member of the group but might have been charged under federal conspiracy law for conversations he had with a group member. The lawyer said he did not have the opportunity to discuss the case fully with his client Monday.
The five were charged with a variety of conspiracy and weapons violations, according to the indictment made public Monday at federal court in Bridgeport.
Those named in the indictment are White Wolves members Kenneth Zrallack, 29, of Ansonia; Alexander DeFelice, 32, of Milford; and William R. Bolton, 31, of Stratford, who is serving in the U.S. Army. Also charged were Edwin T. Westmoreland, 27, of Stratford, accused of participating in the group’s activities, and David Sutton, 46, of Milford, who is described as a DeFelice associate.
The Anti-Defamation League says that in recent years, the White Wolves have become a potentially dangerous group.
“Over the past two years, what began as a small collection of racist skinheads in Stratford, Connecticut, has grown into the largest and most active extremist group in the state,” the ADL says on its Internet page. “The group describes itself as a ‘white nationalist skinhead organization’ and promotes an ideology espousing hatred of Jews and racial and ethnic minorities. Members, though typically young, have been involved in a number of criminal acts in Connecticut and have forged ties with nationally recognized hate groups … ”
According to the ADL website, members of the group have been involved in assaults and other crimes in the state.
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Alleged White Supremacists Accused in Elaborate Firearm Plot
The allegations include a plot to steal an arsenal of weapons from a Connecticut home, a shopping spree at a Milford auto parts store for tools to make explosive grenades and a trip to a Milford home to gather explosive powder to make grenades.
There are also allegations of cryptic phone calls ending in code for “Heil Hitler” and shipping packages marked with Swastikas.
Kenneth Zrallack, 29, of Ansonia, the leader of the Connecticut White Wolves, a self-described white supremacist group now known as Battalion 14, had been charged, along with Alexander DeFelice, 32, of Milford, and William R. Bolton, 31, of Stratford.
Edwin T. Westmoreland, 27 of Stratford, who is alleged to have participated in some of the activities of the Connecticut White Wolves/Battalion 14; and David Sutton, 46, of Milford, an associate of DeFelice, have also been charged.
A 15-page court document refers to “Witness A,” who met with the Connecticut White Wolves/Battalion 14, identified himself as a convicted felon and as a member of an out-of-state white supremacist group and said he wanted to obtain firearms.
In response, DeFelice said he knew someone who made firearms at his Naugatuck Valley residence from parts he had obtained online and had an arsenal worth several hundred thousand dollars at his home, according to court documents.
From there, a plot to break into the home and rob the man of the weapons was crafted, but the indictment does not allege that the planned robbery occurred.
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See Also
• Members and Associates of White Supremacist Group Charged with Making Grenades, Selling Guns, Department of Justice Press Release
• Research resources on White Supremacists
• ADL page on the Connecticut White Wolves