Klansman Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Cross Burning

Flanagan’s co-conspirator, Timothy Stafford, constructed a wooden cross in a workshop behind his house. Using Flanagan’s credit card, Stafford and co-conspirator Ivan “Rusty” London then purchased diesel-fuel with which to soak the cross.

Flanagan and the other co-conspirators then drove the cross to the victim’s residence and upon arriving at the residence, Flanagan and London exited the truck.

The cross was placed in the driveway leading up to the house and was ignited. The co-conspirators burned the cross with the purpose of intimidating the African-American male who resided at that residence.