Joliet man pleads guilty to 2007 racist arson
January 19, 2013 12:36AM
Updated: February 21, 2013 6:52AM
A white supremacist from Joliet pleaded guilty Friday to burning down his black neighbors’ home in June 2007.
Brian J. Moudry, 36, of the 300 block of South Reed Street, admitted to the racially motivated arson at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago. His sentencing is scheduled for April 26. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
In the plea agreement, Moudry admitted to setting the fire because he was upset that a black family had rented a house on his block, according to prosecutors. They said he also admitted that he intended to intimidate the owner of the house and to prevent blacks from renting the property.
Moudry previously served prison time for hate crimes against blacks and has also claimed to be the leader of the Illinois branch of a white supremacist group led by Matt Hale, who’s serving a 40-year prison sentence after being convicted of asking a follower in 2002 to murder U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow. Moudry’s face, neck and arms are covered in racist tattoos.
Ironically, a black federal defender was appointed last summer to represent Moudry, who could not afford an attorney.
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