The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Colorado on Tuesday announced that three individuals have been indicted on charges related to a hate crime that happened during the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election.

Derrick Bernard Jr., 35, Ashely Blackcloud, 40, and Deanna West, 38, were indicted by a federal grand jury for “maliciously conveying false information about a threat made by means of fire,” to drum up support for the eventual mayoral race winner Yemi Mobolade.

The hate crime itself involved a burning cross in front of a campaign sign defaced with a racial slur amid the runoff between Mobolade, who is Black, and Wayne Williams, who is White.

Bernard recently appeared in court in El Paso County, defending himself against charges that he ordered the 2019 murder of William Underwood, who went by the rapper name “FYL Jackk.” The trial was quick. Just over 48 hours after opening statements, Bernard was found guilty of three counts of murder for ordering Aee Shawn Mathews, 26, to kill Underwood. He was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole.

Bernard has vowed to appeal the conviction.

According to the FBI indictment, the three defendants were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to spread disinformation about the hate crime.

Before the runoff, law enforcement allege that Bernard sent a message to the other two in which he explained he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother.” He also sent allegedly messages referencing a desire to prevent “the klan” from gaining political control of Colorado Springs.

The FBI alleges that Bernard then worked with Blackcloud and West to stage a cross burning in front of a campaign sign for Mobolade defaced with a racial slur in the early hours of April 23, 2023.

The three are accused of spreading false information about the event through an email from an anonymous source to various news and civic organizations within the city.

According to the indictment, Bernard spoke with Mobolade for approximately five minutes on the telephone on or around April 26, 2023, three days after the hate crime occurred.

Bernard issued the following statement from prison regarding the indictment:

“it’s a shame what lengths the system will go in order to misdirect and slander those whom bring the criminality of public servants to the attention of the people. Guess what though ladies and gentlemen … Those same so-called public servants are still misappropriating your tax dollars illegally each and every day.”

“The truth is still the truth even when you try to discredit the sources,” Bernard said, insisting his online radio station at the time never lied in its reporting of city corruption and the hate crime.

In a statement to Gazette media partner KOAA at the time of the event, Mobolade expressed doubt as to the perpetrators of the sign defacement and cross burning.

“We do not know if the photo is of real events or if it was staged/created. Either way, it’s reprehensible,” the statement reads in part.

Blackcloud made an initial appearance on Tuesday in front of Magistrate Judge Timothy P. O’Hara in Denver. Bernard is expected to make an appearance following a transfer into federal custody. West is a fugitive.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Fields and Rebecca Weber.