ATLANTA – The leader of a white supremacist group has pleaded guilty to firearms violations stemming from a raid on his Dahlonega home 10 months ago.
Chester James Doles, a former Klansman and the Georgia leader of the National Alliance, admitted Monday to illegal possession of a dozen guns.
During the 1990s, Doles was sentenced to multiyear terms for battery and burglary in Maryland. Federal law forbids possession of firearms by those who have been convicted of a crime and served more than a year.
After moving to Georgia, Doles became the state leader of the West Virginia-based National Alliance. Beginning in July 2001, an undercover informant working for federal authorities taped his conversations with Doles.
The informant, whose identity has not been disclosed, told authorities he saw Doles wearing a pistol at one meeting and that Doles told him he owned two rifles.
Dozens of agents descended on Doles’ home in March 2003 and seized weapons.
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, one of Doles’ lawyers, said he expects Doles’ sentence to be no longer than 10 years. U.S. District Judge Richard Story scheduled the sentencing for March 18.