Five self-proclaimed neo-Nazis arrested in Florida on drug and weapons charges

Five self-proclaimed neo-Nazis were arrested in Florida after an investigation led authorities to find them in possession of illegal firearms, methamphetamine and Nazi propaganda material. A sixth individual remains at large.

The five suspects were arrested in a Tampa Bay area suburb on Tuesday (8 August). They were identified as Alexander Nowokunski, Gabrielle Price, Michael Baun, Melinda Zalneraitis and Steven Crumbley. Nowokunski and Crumbley are documented gang members, The Associated Press reported.

Justin Hopper has been identified as the sixth suspect.

While searching the property, deputies discovered American Nazi Family propaganda that outlined the rules, oaths and hierarchy of the neo-Nazi group, arrest reports revealed.

"It wasn't as if they were a neo-Nazi group that says 'We're committing these crimes because we're neo-Nazis.' These were street thug criminals who happened to be neo-Nazis," Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said Wednesday (9 August) during a press conference.

Nocco said the suspects allegedly stole identification cards from mailboxes and then used them to get credit cards. The sheriff said the suspects likely traded both the IDs and the credit cards for drugs.

According to WFLA, a SWAT team assisted with the search of the home in the Griffin Park area of New Port Richey. Nocco referred to the home as a "cesspool" and said detectives could barely walk around.

"This place should've been condemned years ago," he said.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office confiscated a number of items from the home, including personal identification information, credit cards, military and state IDs, veterans ID cards, insurance cards, vehicle titles, drug paraphernalia, opiates, 12 grams of meth, ammunition, 9mm Firestar firearm, .45-caliber High Point firearm, Glock 23 and a rifle.

The suspects were charged with: felon in possession of a firearm and ammo, possession of a firearm with altered serial number, possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of meth, possession of opiates and possession of paraphernalia.