Two Oregon Men Indicted for Federal Hate Crimes

WASHINGTON - Gary Moss and Devan Klausegger of Medford, Ore., were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit a hate crime, in which they burnt the image of a cross and the letters “KKK” into the front lawn of a biracial couple and their two children.

Moss and Klausegger were both charged with one count of interfering with the housing rights of another person and one count of conspiring to interfere with civil rights. If convicted, Moss and Klausegger face a maximum punishment of 20 years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine.

According to the indictment, on May 26, 2008, Moss poured flammable liquid on the front lawn of the victim’s residence in the shape of a cross and the letters “KKK”, and Klaussegger handed Moss a small explosive device to set the kerosene on fire. The indictment further alleges that Moss and Klausegger committed this act with the intent to interfere with the victims’ rights under the Fair Housing Act.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bud Fitzgerald from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Trial Attorney Roy Conn from the Civil Rights Division.