Tampa, FL – Alexander Lightner, a 27-year-old resident of Venice, Florida, has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison for possessing an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Judge William F. Jung handed down the sentence on Thursday, following Lightner's guilty plea on March 11, 2025.
Lightner is associated with the Terrorgram Collective, an extremist online group that advocates for white supremacist beliefs and the use of violence to provoke a race war and the establishment of a white ethnostate. Court records revealed that on December 29, 2023, Lightner posted several threatening messages in a private Terrorgram chat. His statements included ominous messages such as “2024 there shall be saints,” and “Highscore shall be defeated.” These terms are known references within white supremacist circles, where "saints" denote individuals who have perpetrated significant acts of violence motivated by hate, while "Highscore" alludes to a future attack intended to exceed the casualties of previous incidents.
Federal agents conducted a search of Lightner’s residence in Venice less than a week after his threatening posts, uncovering a firearm silencer, multiple firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and extremist literature, including a copy of "Mein Kampf." Additionally, they found documents glorifying mass shooting events and previous white supremacist attacks. During an interview with law enforcement, Lightner admitted to creating the firearm silencer and acknowledged his threatening online activity.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with support from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat extremist activities and prevent violence, underscoring the importance of community vigilance and law enforcement cooperation in addressing such threats.
