Hayden Espinosa allegedly sold firearm components to white supremacists while in custody, aided by contraband cellphones.
Authorities have indicted 24-year-old Hayden Espinosa on charges of selling gun parts to extremists while imprisoned, motivated by Neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideologies. According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Espinosa allegedly managed the illegal sales through a contraband cellphone while in a federal prison in Louisiana, using a Telegram channel called “3D Amendment” to reach customers.
Following his release from federal custody on June 4, Espinosa was promptly re-arrested by New York officials in connection with these charges. Prosecutors said that one of Espinosa’s clients was an undercover New York police officer, highlighting the scope of his operation. The Telegram channel he used is frequented by members sharing extreme ideologies, including antisemitic, racist, and xenophobic beliefs.
DA Bragg emphasized the threat posed by combining extremism with access to firearms, noting the danger to public safety. The NYPD’s Chief of Counterterrorism, Rebecca Weiner, stated that Espinosa’s digital activities spanned multiple states, including Louisiana, Texas, and Ohio, showcasing the wide digital reach of such extremist ideologies.
This particular Telegram group had previously been linked to the 2022 racially motivated shooting in Buffalo, where a gunman killed 10 Black people at a supermarket, according to officials. The case underscores the challenge of combatting extremist networks using online platforms to propagate dangerous ideologies.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into Espinosa’s activities and the broader network associated with the “3D Amendment” Telegram channel, aiming to curb similar threats across state lines.
