The Colorado Springs Anti-Fascists group first identified Master Sgt. Cory Reeves as a member of the Colorado branch of Identity Evropa earlier this month. Cheri Dragos-Pritchard, a base spokeswoman, confirmed officials there knew of the allegations and are investigating Reeves’s ties.
Dragos-Pritchard referred questions Tuesday about the investigation to the Air Force’s national media team. Major Nick Mercurio, an Air Force spokesman, said he had “no information for you” about whether the investigation was complete, what it found or whether Reeves had been disciplined.
Identity Evropa — which was recently rebranded — was one of the most visible supremacist groups in Colorado and best known for their blue and white stickers they place on college campuses and street signs. In leaked chat messages, Reeves positioned himself as a leader of the local chapter.
The group’s founder, Nathan Damigo, was a member of the U.S. Marines Corps, according to the ADL.
Patrick Casey, the group’s most recent leader, announced in March that Identity Evropa was being “retired.” Shortly after, he launched a new group called the American Identity Movement, which activists have said is simply a rebranding of Identity Evropa.
Identity Evropa’s end came a few days after a nonprofit group called Unicorn Riot leaked the group’s internal messages. News organizations across the country used the leaks to track activity by Identity Evropa and other extremist groups in their communities.
Under his username in the chat boards, Reeves posted photos of himself and others placing Identity Evropa stickers or holding the group’s banner in locations across the Front Range. His photos were taken in Breckenridge, Estes Park, Golden, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Greeley, the Cherry Creek Mall, Civic Center Park and inside the Denver International Airport. He was also one of two men featured in a Youtube video purporting to show the men painting a mural with the group’s logo underneath a Denver overpass.
He also noted in the chats in December 2017 that he was a dues-paying member of the Oath Keepers — a radical anti-government group — but couldn’t act more publicly because he is active-duty military.
Those skills are appealing to white nationalists because the groups feel like they’re fighting a war against modern culture, he said. The groups also recruit within the military because it is largely comprised men in their 20s and 30s who are still forming their opinions and beliefs.
“Do I think they will always catch it? No. I don’t think they’re looking that hard,” he said.