In a troubling case of homegrown extremism, former Marine Jordan Duncan has been sentenced on Monday, October 28, to seven years in prison for his role in a neo-Nazi plot targeting energy facilities across Idaho.
Duncan, a 29-year-old from Bailey, North Carolina, was convicted of manufacturing a short-barrel rifle without registration, a violation of the National Firearms Act.
But the charges go deeper than just weapon possession—Duncan was part of a white supremacist group with plans to disrupt critical infrastructure and wreak havoc across the northwest US.
Who Is Jordan Duncan?
According to the recent press release from the Department of Justice, Duncan served as a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he built a respectable service record.
However, after leaving the Corps, he connected with extremist circles, ultimately becoming involved in a neo-Nazi network inspired by the notorious “Iron March” forum, an online gathering point for white supremacists.
The forum, which shuttered in 2017, was a breeding ground for violent ideology, connecting young individuals drawn to the rhetoric of racial supremacy.
Through Iron March, Duncan met fellow extremists, including former Marines and a National Guardsman, who shared his vision of creating chaos through violence.
Over time, Duncan and his accomplices formed a tightly-knit group, described by Attorney General Merrick Garland as a “modern-day SS.”
In a troubling case of homegrown extremism, former Marine Jordan Duncan has been sentenced on Monday, October 28, to seven years in prison for his role in a neo-Nazi plot targeting energy facilities across Idaho.
Duncan, a 29-year-old from Bailey, North Carolina, was convicted of manufacturing a short-barrel rifle without registration, a violation of the National Firearms Act.
But the charges go deeper than just weapon possession—Duncan was part of a white supremacist group with plans to disrupt critical infrastructure and wreak havoc across the northwest US.
Who Is Jordan Duncan?
According to the recent press release from the Department of Justice, Duncan served as a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he built a respectable service record.
However, after leaving the Corps, he connected with extremist circles, ultimately becoming involved in a neo-Nazi network inspired by the notorious “Iron March” forum, an online gathering point for white supremacists.
The forum, which shuttered in 2017, was a breeding ground for violent ideology, connecting young individuals drawn to the rhetoric of racial supremacy.
Through Iron March, Duncan met fellow extremists, including former Marines and a National Guardsman, who shared his vision of creating chaos through violence.
Over time, Duncan and his accomplices formed a tightly-knit group, described by Attorney General Merrick Garland as a “modern-day SS.”
They planned attacks, trained in weapon use, and circulated white supremacist propaganda, positioning themselves as defenders of an ideology bent on disrupting society.
Notable that although prosecutors reduced charges against Duncan to a firearms violation and left the question of terrorism unresolved, the NCIS director describes Duncan’s group as “a domestic terrorist cell.” /2 https://t.co/aNpivDiq3y
Duncan was the last member of his five-man group to be sentenced. His accomplices included two other former Marines—Liam Collins, 25, of Johnston, Rhode Island, and Justin Wade Hermanson, 25, of Swansboro, North Carolina—and two others, Paul James Kryscuk, 38, of Boise, Idaho, and Joseph Maurino, 25, of Manalapan, New Jersey, who were also convicted of related charges.
The group’s activities, which were documented in court, painted a disturbing picture.
They stole military equipment, built unregistered firearms, researched toxins, and scouted potential targets. Their ultimate goal was to strike at key intersections and power grid points in Idaho and surrounding states, using the infrastructure to sow chaos.
Kryscuk, one of the ringleaders, was arrested in possession of a handwritten list detailing their intended targets, which included substations and transformers across the northwest.
Footage also surfaced of the group training in the desert near Boise, clad in masks associated with the Atomwaffen Division, a notorious white supremacist group, while posing under a Nazi flag.
These images show Duncan and his group performing “Heil Hitler“ salutes, flashing symbols of hate, and recording propaganda intended to recruit others into their cause.
The Broader Issue: Extremism in the Ranks
Unfortunately, this case highlights a persistent issue that has plagued the military for decades—extremism within its ranks.
“Those involved in violent extremism make up a miniscule fraction of a percent of all service members, but these military personnel can add larger-than-average value to extremist networks due to their specialized knowledge and abilities—including communications, logistics, and tactical skills.” —Center for Strategic and International StudiesApril 2022 Report
The Department of Defense has repeatedly tried to tackle the problem, but identifying extremist leanings in service members can be challenging.
Former Marine Collins, for example, began his recruitment efforts while still on active duty, targeting other servicemembers who might be sympathetic to his cause.
This tactic of drawing in current or former military personnel brings an added layer of danger, as these individuals often have access to specialized training, equipment, and tactical knowledge.
Luke Baumgartner, a research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, emphasized the difficulties the Department of Defense faces in identifying and addressing these threats early.
“They started this planning process while they were all still on active duty,” Baumgartner noted, underscoring the challenges of tracking radicalization among servicemembers.
Military training combined with extremist views can lead to devastating outcomes if not addressed in time.
In this case, all five individuals were brought to justice before carrying out their plans, but it underscores the ongoing need for the military and government agencies to remain vigilant in identifying and removing extremism from their ranks.
Sentencing and Its Implications
Jordan Duncan’s sentence was part of a broader effort to dismantle the group and prevent their ideology from spreading.
He received seven years, while his co-defendant, Kryscuk, was sentenced to over six years, Collins received a 10-year sentence, and Hermanson and Maurino each received shorter terms.
According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray, if their plot had succeeded, it could have caused “suffering to thousands of American citizens.”
The sentences send a strong message that violent, hate-fueled ideologies have no place in American society, regardless of the backgrounds of those involved.
The Justice Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and other agencies emphasized their commitment to tackling extremist cells like this one.
Director Omar Lopez of NCIS called the investigation crucial in “dismantling a domestic terrorist cell intent on targeting innocent people and destroying critical infrastructure.”
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas added that the whole-of-government approach is essential in rooting out these threats and holding perpetrators accountable.
Video Below: In this 2020 KTVB report, the US Attorney’s Office announced new charges against four men, including former Marines, tied to white supremacy, seen training in the Boise desert.
Final Thoughts
The case of Jordan Duncan and his co-conspirators is a stark reminder that even those who have served their country are not immune to extremist influences.
As the military and law enforcement continue to address the issue of extremism in the ranks, cases like Duncan’s underscore the importance of constant vigilance, early intervention, and the need to foster an environment within the armed forces that rejects hate in all its forms.
By stopping this group before they could act, law enforcement agencies prevented what could have been a catastrophic attack. But the question remains: How do we keep these dangerous ideologies from infiltrating our military in the first place? That’s a conversation the defense community will need to keep having, as they work to protect both their ranks and the nation.
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