Terrorism Doesn't Just Come from Abroad

Although the U.S. tends to thinks terrorism originates on foreign shores, this country has its own share of evildoers, and officials are investigating their efforts along with tracking down extremist groups in other countries. In our country, such efforts are often financed with bank robberies or other money crimes.

A recent example occurred in Boston, where several individuals were indicted for bank robbery and conspiracy to rob an armored car. The individuals allegedly wanted the money to finance underground activities of a white supremacist cell.

Leo V. Felton and Erica Chase already faced a number of criminal charges, including conspiring to bomb properties with Jewish and African-American ties. Those two individuals along with a third member of the cell, who was already serving time, had the ultimate goal of setting off a "racial holy war" by committing bombings of properties such as the National Holocaust Museum and other violent acts. The cell was emulating another white supremacist group, "the Order," which committed bombings, robberies and murder in the 1980s. The most recent cell also used counterfeit money they created on a personal computer to buy weapons and other equipment. Felton and Chase were caught when they attempted to pass counterfeit currency in Boston.

Copyright © 2001 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 11, No. 10, 10/01