BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NEW ORLEANS — A Paintsville man pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week to one year and one day in prison in the U.S. District of Eastern Louisiana for committing a federal hate crime.
According to court documents, Brian Adams, 24, of Paintsville “Zoombombed” a fifth-grade class at the Laureate Academy Charter School on Oct. 14, 2020, hurling racial slurs at fifth-graders and threatening to lynch them.
The school was conducting classes virtually over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adams called the majority Black class a “bunch of dirty n—-s.” He threatened the children, stating he would “hang you by the tree.”
According to news reports, the children shielded their eyes and began crying during the incident, which was recorded.
Adams was banned and teachers created another virtual classroom, but prosecutors said he logged in to that classroom, too, and continued his tirade until he was permanently removed.
A YouTube video of the attack surfaced the following day and allegedly included evidence that Adams had searched for pictures of swastikas using Google.
Nola.com reported that federal agents tracked Adams down using information from a Google email address associated with his Zoom account. The account was listed under the name “alex jones,” reportedly in reference to the namesake alt-right conspiracy theorist and radio host.
Federal agents raided the Paintsville residence where Adams lived with his father.
Adams confessed to the racist Zoombombing during questioning and admitted to stealing computer equipment to the tune of over $1,000 from Best Buy, news sources said.
The court found that Adams’ actions were motivated by hate, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.
“The defendant used racial epithets and threats against innocent children who were simply trying to get an education,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No child should ever have to endure racially motivated hatred like this in a classroom, a school or anywhere else.”
Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office stated, “Hate has no place in our country, especially in a fifth-grade classroom.”