RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A convicted felon was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for having weapons and ammunition during a demonstration in Richmond, federal officials said.
Matthew Lee Frezza, 37, of Chesterfield had a homemade assault rifle, a handgun, a ballistic vest and eight magazines when the truck he was riding in was stopped by Richmond police on June 12 after leaving the Robert E. Lee monument, Virginia U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger said Thursday in a news release.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported prosecutors said Frezza rode in a caravan to the monument to pick up members of a group who had infiltrated protesters and were trying to gather intelligence.
According to the news release, Frezza was one of three passengers in one of three trucks. Police said all three had firearms, including assault rifles. Frezza’s homemade assault rifle had no serial number and contained a loaded, high-capacity magazine, prosecutors said.
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