Convicted felon obsessed with Nazis sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison

A convicted felon who authorities say has an obsession with Nazis and mass shootings was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for having guns when he wasn’t allowed to, federal officials said.

Dennis Alan Riggs, 51, of Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood, previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

Federal officials said Riggs had in his possession seven guns, six of which were loaded, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from having any of them.

Riggs was arrested Jan. 22 by FBI agents serving a search warrant on his Hatteras Street home. He’s been in federal prison since his arrest, officials said.

A search of Riggs’ home turned up the seven guns, one of which was an AR-15 style rifle.

The guns found included: a Ruger .223-caliber, AR-15 style rifle; a Ruger .22-caliber revolver; a Harrington & Richardson shotgun; a .38-Special revolver; a Colt .38-caliber revolver; a US 32-caliber revolver, which was loaded and had its hammer cocked; and a Harrington & Richardson shotgun.

Riggs told investigators he knew he could not possess firearms because he’s a felon.

Investigators said Riggs admitted he asked a romantic partner to buy the AR-15 style rifle for him.

Also in Riggs’ house, investigators found Nazi and Hitler posters and pictures and numerous other weapons, including knives and daggers.

On his cellphone, authorities found photographs and videos of Riggs posing with the AR-15 style rifle while wearing a shirt bearing a Nazi swastika.

One video, investigators said, specifically shows Riggs cocking the AR-15 style rifle and performing a Nazi salute. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville, who imposed the sentence, said that video “exceeds the bounds of mere political expression.”

Also on Riggs’ phone were images of Riggs with firearms and a photograph of convicted mass killer Dylann Roof with Roof’s current federal prison contact information, investigators said.