Feds: Couple killed to fuel 'white supremacist' campaign
PORTLAND, Ore. - A host of federal charges, including kidnapping, racketeering and fraud, have been filed against a couple accused of murdering four people last year in a 10-day crime spree spanning Washington, Oregon and California.
U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall announced the indictments Friday against David Joseph “Joey” Pedersen, 32, of Portland, and Holly Ann Grigsby, 25, of Portland.
“The indictment in this case alleges horrendous crimes were committed as part of defendants’ white-supremacist campaign to kidnap and murder targets on the basis of race, color, religion, and perceived 'degenerate' conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall.
Federal charges against the pair include racketeering, conspiracy, using a firearm in a crime of violence that caused death, kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, transportation of stolen vehicles, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges all stem from an alleged 10-day crime spree in September 2011 that began with the shooting death of Pedersen's father, David "Red" Pedersen, 56, and the stabbing death of his stepmother, Leslie Mae "DeeDee" Pedersen, 69.
The two defendants are also accused of killing 19-year-old Cody Myers in Western Oregon because his name sounded Jewish and 53-year-old Reginald Clark near Eureka, Calif., because he was black.
"Joey" Pedersen pleaded guilty in March to the murders of his father and stepmother in a deal that spared him from the death penalty in Washington state. He still faces charges in Oregon and California for the other two killings.
Grigsby still faces trial for all four killings in addition to the federal charges filed against her and Pedersen. She is scheduled to appear for arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in Seattle on Aug. 20. “Joey” Pedersen’s arraignment will be scheduled in Portland, Ore., in the near future.
“These crimes victimize not only individuals and their families, but entire communities," Marshall said in a statement. "No one should live in fear of being attacked because of their race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. We hope this indictment brings the victims’ families one step closer to justice.”
The indictment charges that Pedersen and Grigsby were members of a criminal enterprise that engaged in acts of violence and other criminal activity to promote a white supremacist movement to “purify” and “preserve” the white race.
They are also charged with targeting Jewish leaders, members of prominent Jewish organizations, and other “Zionists,” and using the media to publicize their movement in an attempt to spark a revolution.
The indictment alleges that Pedersen and Grigsby robbed victims in order to finance the enterprise and obtain cars for transportation, and that they murdered victims to eliminate witnesses and avoid apprehension and prosecution.
Among the specific charges against them:
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Pedersen’s father, David Joseph “Red” Pedersen of Everett on Sept. 26, 2011, the interstate transportation of Red Pedersen’s stolen vehicle, and credit card fraud and aggravated identify theft based on their use of Red Pedersen’s stolen credit cards
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Pedersen’s stepmother, Leslie “Dee Dee” Pedersen, of Everett, as well as credit card fraud and aggravated identify theft based on their use of her stolen credit cards
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Cody Faye Myers, of Lafayette, Ore., on Oct. 1, 2011, as well as carjacking, using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence that resulted in death, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Reginald Clark, of Eureka, Calif., on Oct. 3, 2011, as well as using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence that resulted in death, and
• Being a felon in possession of a firearm, which includes allegations that Pedersen is an armed career criminal.
The federal charges stem from an investigation led by the FBI and assisted by a number of state and local law enforcement agencies.
If convicted, "Joey" Pedersen and Grigsby face the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty, along with huge fines.
U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall announced the indictments Friday against David Joseph “Joey” Pedersen, 32, of Portland, and Holly Ann Grigsby, 25, of Portland.
“The indictment in this case alleges horrendous crimes were committed as part of defendants’ white-supremacist campaign to kidnap and murder targets on the basis of race, color, religion, and perceived 'degenerate' conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall.
Federal charges against the pair include racketeering, conspiracy, using a firearm in a crime of violence that caused death, kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, transportation of stolen vehicles, aggravated identity theft, credit card fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges all stem from an alleged 10-day crime spree in September 2011 that began with the shooting death of Pedersen's father, David "Red" Pedersen, 56, and the stabbing death of his stepmother, Leslie Mae "DeeDee" Pedersen, 69.
The two defendants are also accused of killing 19-year-old Cody Myers in Western Oregon because his name sounded Jewish and 53-year-old Reginald Clark near Eureka, Calif., because he was black.
"Joey" Pedersen pleaded guilty in March to the murders of his father and stepmother in a deal that spared him from the death penalty in Washington state. He still faces charges in Oregon and California for the other two killings.
Grigsby still faces trial for all four killings in addition to the federal charges filed against her and Pedersen. She is scheduled to appear for arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in Seattle on Aug. 20. “Joey” Pedersen’s arraignment will be scheduled in Portland, Ore., in the near future.
“These crimes victimize not only individuals and their families, but entire communities," Marshall said in a statement. "No one should live in fear of being attacked because of their race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. We hope this indictment brings the victims’ families one step closer to justice.”
The indictment charges that Pedersen and Grigsby were members of a criminal enterprise that engaged in acts of violence and other criminal activity to promote a white supremacist movement to “purify” and “preserve” the white race.
They are also charged with targeting Jewish leaders, members of prominent Jewish organizations, and other “Zionists,” and using the media to publicize their movement in an attempt to spark a revolution.
The indictment alleges that Pedersen and Grigsby robbed victims in order to finance the enterprise and obtain cars for transportation, and that they murdered victims to eliminate witnesses and avoid apprehension and prosecution.
Among the specific charges against them:
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Pedersen’s father, David Joseph “Red” Pedersen of Everett on Sept. 26, 2011, the interstate transportation of Red Pedersen’s stolen vehicle, and credit card fraud and aggravated identify theft based on their use of Red Pedersen’s stolen credit cards
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Pedersen’s stepmother, Leslie “Dee Dee” Pedersen, of Everett, as well as credit card fraud and aggravated identify theft based on their use of her stolen credit cards
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Cody Faye Myers, of Lafayette, Ore., on Oct. 1, 2011, as well as carjacking, using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence that resulted in death, and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle
• The murder, kidnapping and robbery of Reginald Clark, of Eureka, Calif., on Oct. 3, 2011, as well as using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence that resulted in death, and
• Being a felon in possession of a firearm, which includes allegations that Pedersen is an armed career criminal.
The federal charges stem from an investigation led by the FBI and assisted by a number of state and local law enforcement agencies.
If convicted, "Joey" Pedersen and Grigsby face the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty, along with huge fines.
Scary.  This is the extreme example of what stubborn ignorance can produce.Â
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White supremacists are traditionally  lazy idiots with regard to education and personal accountability. If any of them actually bothered to learn to read beyond 2nd grade, then take that a step further and learn how to research disciplines including Science, Philosophy, History, Anthropology and Geophysics they wouldn't BE white supremacists. Go to the library - its free and there are a lot of books.
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Ignorance begets hatred which begets assault or murder. Preventable crimes. If parents hold themselves accountable for how they are raising their kids, the trend for hate crimes could end. Its do-able only if people can let go of their egos long enough to exercise a little altruism.
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Wow... the woman in this case has the classic 'meth bimbo with daddy issues' look....
Let's just hope they're extradited to a death penalty state. Then they can find out for sure what God thinks of their idiotic ideas.
 @svensson Idiotic is right. They're out looking for degenerates when they're the biggest degenerates around!
Another case of what stupid hollywood movie plot inspired these two, Don't quote me now but i think it was "Natural born idiots".
Gingers...
After it appears by all piles of evidence that Texas recently sent an innocent man to ride the stainless steel lightning, I have become against the death penalty. There is no room for error when it comes to the ultimate punishment.
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But, for these two bags of smack, I'm willing to make an exception.
They sure do look like the Darwin gene pool resides within.
Animals.
If these two are an example of the "pure" white race, we are surely doomed for they are uglier, filthier, and more impure than the scum that must be scraped off the bottom of a septic tank.
Fry the freaks ASAP
Is it bad of me to think there really are different types of human beings? I don't think most of us are anything like these two sub-humans.
 @alildifferent I think deep down we're closer to them than we'd like to admit, which is why we feel compelled to fling so much abuse at them on these forums.
It's not unlike the theory that people who attack homosexuals are worried about their own sexuality.
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 @LeNinja Sorry, LeNinja. I didn't mean to imply that you're a white supremacist -- only that all of us can be pretty ugly on the inside.
@relatively Yikes speak for yourself - i am not anything remotely close to these scumbags. If you are please find nearest bridge and do us a favor :-)
@flyskiwindsurf The smile indicates my sarcasm
@alildifferent. It nearly appears that you might almost be proving relativelyâs point.
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Ha! They are "White Supremists Ginger Kids."
They article says that they were targeting people based upon religion, but makes no mention of their own religious beliefs. Could it be possible, just maybe, that they are Christian white supremacists? Most white supremacist groups are Christian.Â
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Having said that, very little media attention has gone to the liberal nutjob who shot that security guard at the Family Research Council because of their anti-gay politics.Â
@caphillkid
Lots of tem are in what is called theChristian Identity Movement
I miss the edit function...a lot. Sorry for typos.Â
These freaks make my blood boil. They need to be made an example of for all the other extreme racists out there to think twice about killing innocent people!
Good thing they won't be reproducing.
I really don't see how there could be anything else available but the death penalty for these two individuals-
 @izwideopenI prefer them not to get the death penalty, but rather life with no possibility of parole. Especially at their ages - 60-70 years in prison.  Now THAT'S punishment!  and no appeals meaning they won't be costing us millions hiring lawyer after lawyer for twenty years.
 @fyrefawx You're better than I. I think when they live like rabid animals, they should be euthanized.
 @izwideopen There is no way they (or anyone else for that matter) will *ever* get the death penalty in Washington State anyway, after the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, plea-bargained 50 premeditated cold-blooded aggravated first-degree murders all the way down to Life_Without_Parole.....
Just rabid dogs. Put them down.
 @Blindman There is no way they (or anyone else for that matter) will *ever* get the death penalty in Washington State anyway, after the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, plea-bargained 50 premeditated cold-blooded aggravated first-degree murders all the way down to Life_Without_Parole.....
 @Big Don  @Blindman That's OK.  They still have state murder charges in CA and OR.  I'm sure one of them will have the cajones to do it.
KOMO.. I fixed it.
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If convicted, "Joey" Pedersen and Grigsby face the possibility of life in prison, huge fines or the death penalty.
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 @greenecho There is no way they (or anyone else for that matter) will *ever* get the death penalty in Washington State anyway, after the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, plea-bargained 50 premeditated cold-blooded aggravated first-degree murders all the way down to Life_Without_Parole.....
@greenecho. No you didnât. KOMOâs sentence is still more correct. I.e. they could still be fined along with receiving the death penalty. Collecting on the fine might be problematic depending on whatever estate is there. I am guessing not much of one.
This is why hate really does not square with the consitution.
America's cutest couple...
Tell me again why the Homeland Security has 18 or 19 people assigned to foreign terrorism and only one person assigned to domestic terrorism.
"If convicted, "Joey" Pedersen and Grigsby face the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty, along with huge fines."
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Huge fines? Like they will ever be able to pay a penny of any fine.
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Supporting these brutal murderers for decades on the long-suffering tax-payers backs? NO! "If convicted"... just do us all a favor and hang'em high. There are much better things to spend OUR money on!
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This will likely plea bargain down to misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct and time served..........
There have been studies and it has been documented scientifically -- People that are white supremists have, in general, lower IQ's than the average person. I know there might be an exception here or there, but I found it quite interesting that people who have only the color of their skin to be proud of aren't smart enough or capable enough to actually accomplish things to be really be proud of.Â
@The WA Mama So having Native pride or being proud of being African American makes you dumber than most? Or does that only apply to whites?
 @Unsalvageable  @The Did you even read what she wrote? She said specifically, "People that are white supremacists have, in general lower IQ." Which is more about people who are raised to believe that they are somehow superior to others because of the color of their skin (white privilege is a real thing) but who then discover that their intelligence limits their ability to move up in that world, feel "threatened" by people of "minority" races who, they believe, should automatically be "lower" than they are. When reality shows that those "colored" races are mostly smarter than they are, they get scared and angry, and lash out.
Native or black pride is generally a response to having their history suppressed for so long, they feel a need to make it loud and proud. I rather don't blame them, though in some cases they can be as bad as the white supremacists. Extremists in any group are always scary.
Thank you Lady J. I appreciate your response. I could not have said it any better myself. :-)
 @Lady J I agree in general, but I remember reading a letter hand-written by Pedersen last October, which gave the impression he's significantly smarter than your average Nazi. In a way, that makes him even scarier. The letter is linked from this story:
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132280603.html
The gov"t should bring our soldiers back from the Middle East and send all these White supremacists over and let the crazy Muslims and Wannabe Nazis kill each other, Sounds like a win/win to me.
that "woman" is 25? eeeesh.
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@SwampThing Amazing what crack will do...
 @SwampThing She looks 40 but if you look closely at her chin she has gross acne and crevices like a 16 year old who rubbed french fry lard all over there face. She is a hideous looking piggy.
White supremacists? Look more white trailer trash to me.
Ever notice that most white supremacists seem to be bottom of the barrel white trash?
 @Mountainguy Heh, not very "supreme," are they?