Affidavit: FBI traced ‘Patriot’ group’s HQ to Hopkins’ trailer home; found firearms and ammunition
Larry Hopkins, the so-called commander of the United Constitutional Patriots, has a criminal history dating back nearly 23 years, a federal criminal complaint affidavit states.
Hopkins and his armed group of veterans recently set up camp near the Anapra Gap in southern New Mexico. The gap is where the existing border barrier ends near Sunland Park, New Mexico.
A spokesman for the group told ABC-7 the group has been detaining undocumented immigrants while Border Patrol agents arrive at the scene.
Over the weekend, FBI agents arrested Hopkins and charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Hopkins remains in custody pending a detention hearing next week.
The criminal complaint obtained by ABC-7 states that, in October 2017, the FBI received a tip regarding alleged “militia extremist activity” in Flora Vista, New Mexico.
The complaint states Hopkins set up his “base” for the United Constitutional Patriots at his mobile home in the Lakeside Ranch Trailer Park, where there were reports of 20 members armed with AK-47 rifles.
According to the criminal complaint, Hopkins allegedly made comments about members of his group training to “assassinate George Soros, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama because of their support of the Antifa,” a left-wing radical group.
When two FBI special agents visited Hopkins’ home, he allegedly gave consented to a search of his property and escorted the agents to “his office.” The agents “immediately observed approximately 10 firearms leaning against the wall in a closet in plain view,” the criminal complaint states. Hopkins told the FBI special agents all of the firearms belonged to Fay Sanders Murphy, his wife.
Hopkins allegedly told the FBI agents there was also a shotgun and a handgun in the bedroom and a handgun in the kitchen, the criminal complaint states.
Hopkins then alerted the agents to a black tactical vest that was “loaded,” the criminal complaint states, adding agents discovered a loaded .9 mm handgun in a holster attached to the tactical vest.
After the search of Hopkins’ home, the FBI discovered that, in1996, Hopkins was convicted of Possessing a Loaded Firearm in Michigan and sentenced to a minimum of 16 months in prison, the criminal complaint states.
Fast-forward ten years to Oregon in 2006, Hopkins was convicted of Felony Possession Of A Firearm, and Criminal Impersonation Of A Peace Officer. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years probation.
