DOJ Case Summary: U.S. v. Laskey

On the night of October 25, 2002, Jacob Albert Laskey drove to Temple Beth Israel, a synagogue in Eugene, Oregon, along with four other members of the Volksfront white supremacist group, Gabriel Doyle Laskey, Gerald Anthony Poundstone, Jesse Lee Baker, and Jereomy Allan Baker. The five men then threw swastika-etched rocks at the temple, breaking stained glass windows while 80 members of the temple were inside attending a Jewish religious service. After throwing the rocks, the men fled the scene.

Following the attack on the synagogue, Jacob Laskey obstructed justice by attempting to persuade a witness not to testify against him concerning his involvement in the attack. Laskey also solicited co-conspirator Jesse Baker to kill potential witnesses and to call in a bomb threat to the federal courthouse in Eugene, where a grand jury was convened to investigate the crime. Then, between the latter part of 2004 and the early part of 2005, Laskey intimidated or attempted to intimidate Jesse Baker, to prevent Baker from relating information regarding the solicitation to federal investigators.

Jacob Laskey pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. 241 (conspiracy); 18 U.S.C. 247 (damage to religious property); 18 U.S.C. 1512 (obstruction of justice); 18 U.S.C. 373 (solicitation to commit a crime of violence); and 18 U.S.C. 922 (felon in possession of a firearm) and, on April 3, 2007, he was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison.

Co-conspirators Gerald Anthony Poundstone and Gabriel Laskey entered guilty pleas to violating 18 U.S.C. 241 (conspiracy to violate civil rights) and 18 U.S.C. 247 (damage to religious property). Poundstone was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Gabriel Laskey was sentenced to a 6-month work release term and five years probation.

Jesse Baker pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. 241 (conspiracy) and was sentenced to three years probation.

Jereomy Allan Baker pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. 247 (damage to religious property) and was sentenced to 6 months home detention to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

All five defendants were each ordered to pay $896.64 restitution to the Temple Beth Israel.