LAS VEGAS, NV – He’s a former Marine who prosecutors say was trying to pass himself off as being a federal agent. And it turns out his Nazi tattoo is what gave him away.
We’re talking about Zachary Sanns, 28, who is now facing serious charges.
Zachary Sanns is set to go to trial Nov 30 for allegedly impersonating a federal officer during a George Floyd protest in Las Vegas.
The police department knew he had a history of going out to police calls with his wife, an LVMP officer https://t.co/S8W13UsBX5— Salvador Hernandez (@SalHernandez) October 10, 2020
Sanns, a former Marine with a Nazi “SS” tattoo on his arm, is set to face a jury next month. He faces charges of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer during a George Floyd protest in Las Vegas, the Department of Justice announced.
Sanns, the husband of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer, pleaded not guilty in a federal courthouse via video call Friday, October 9th. His jury trial is scheduled for November 30.
He had driven to the protest in a black Chevy Tahoe with blue lights in the grill activated, the complaint stated. As Metro officers from various jurisdictions arrived at the May 30 protest, Sanns’ face was covered with a balaclava, and he walked up behind a line of officers known as the “skirmish line.”
That is a barrier between protesters and a command post, the court papers filed Wednesday said.
Federal LEO cosplay is ILLEGAL.
Man Indicted For Impersonating Federal Law Enforcement Officer During A Protest In Downtown Las Vegas
“Zachary Sanns, 28, of New Jersey, is charged with one count of false personation of an officer or employee of the US.”https://t.co/FIT1x194EC— K. Louise Neufeld (@ninaandtito) October 10, 2020
Sanns allegedly told police he was a federal agent as he lined up with real police officers. Sanns wore a tactical vest with patches that identified him as a federal officer.
He donned a ballistic helmet with night vision goggles. He had a Glock pistol with an extended magazine, and rubber bands wrapped around the handle.
It was clipped to his gun belt, along with a Taser, two tourniquets, and pepper spray. He was also carrying an AR-15 rifle. He faced off with demonstrators that day all geared up.
This is Zachary Sanns; he’s a former US Marine, and Department of Defense contractor for the US Navy. He was arrested for impersonating a Federal law enforcement officer. pic.twitter.com/QZKLO4OG2V
— Tommy Hawk Wilson (@tommyhawkwilson) July 23, 2020
But police did not figure out that Sanns had been allegedly impersonating a federal officer until the Las Vegas Review-Journal published a picture of Sanns at the protest.
According to court documents reviewed by BuzzFeed News, Sanns’ behavior, the way he was dressed, and equipped was:
“Nearly identical to how a plainclothes local and federal enforcement officer would be in this situation.”
But Sanns’ presence at the front line with the AR-15 slung to his side caught the attention of a deputy chief with the metro police.
He went up to Sanns and told him:
“I don’t need you on the front line with an AR-15. Who are you with?”
When he asked Sanns who he was with, Sanns told him he was a “federal officer,” then said he was with Homeland Security Investigations. It sounded plausible so the deputy chief believed him.
Assistant Sheriff Chris Jones then approached Sanns and asked the same question.
“I’m with the State Department, they deployed us out here.”
Amazing that there was a deputy chief at the scene and Sann was never asked to show government credentials. This story is very disturbing that an imposter can make their way into a police area of operation.
Zachary Sanns – U.S. – Stripes https://t.co/XGxeU2eZIH— Doug Poppa (@dougpoppa1) September 22, 2020
Sanns was seen going to a different area of the protest after he had been approached the second time by the assistant sheriff. They did not see him again at the time.
That night, a Las Vegas Review-Journal photographer posted images of Sanns on social media. The images showed an “SS” bolt logo and “0351” tattoos on his upper left arm. The complaint said:
“The SS font is the same font used by Nazi SS units in World War II. The numerical tattoo references a U.S. Marine Corps special infantry. The “SS” tattoo is a “discouraged symbol used by some Marine Corps Scout Snipers. This photo could have an immediate impact due to the public seeing the symbol and speculating the person in the photo to be affiliated with Nazi or racist groups and ideology.”
Sanns had a history of deploying into the field with his wife on her calls for service, and he tried to include himself during department training. Court records indicate officials at the police department had been aware Sanns had been responding to police calls with his wife for some time.
“There was no reason for Sanns to be on the event with his police officer wife in an area of town she does not work and he does not live.”
Sanns’ picture at the protest was published in June, and the internal investigation with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was launched.
One of the supervisors for Sanns’ wife told investigators he had grown frustrated that Sanns was, as he said:
“Continuously coming to the police station, showing up on his wife’s assigned calls for service, and [had] repeated attempts to include himself in department training.”
More details about Zachary Sanns, the former Marine who cops allege was impersonating a federal agent at the Las Vegas protests. Apparently he has a long history of telling lies.https://t.co/Mb7bOt3fqu
— Jack Murphy (@JackMurphyRGR) June 19, 2020
Sanns had tried to file a complaint with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He alleging he had seen officers blowing kisses to his wife, and they were using profanities against him. That wasn’t the case.
In fact, the police said:
“When told the complaint would be closed, Sanns became agitated and irate,” the court documents said. He then told an internal affairs sergeant that he worked with the CIA.”
Police determined Sanns was not a federal law enforcement officer. Instead, he had served as a Marine from January 2011 to April 2016. Also, he worked briefly as a US Navy contractor in December 2019.
While serving a search warrant at his home on June 9, court documents state that Sanns claimed he had never equated himself as a federal officer at the protest. He even denied placing himself on the skirmish line with other officers.
Instead, he said he was:
“An off the books contractor for a federal agency.”
Sanns then said he had been at the police station when a call was made for officers to respond to the protest. He asked a sergeant if he needed help.
Sanns claimed the sergeant told him:
“They could never turn down help from someone like SANNS.”
Court records showed that Sanns remained in federal custody. Sanns pleaded not guilty via a video call at the federal courthouse. He faces three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Atlanta Black Star posted this on their Facebook page. It garnered 979 reactions, 83 comments, and 374 shares. Some of the comments included:
“Shame on him. He need to be 🔒 up. Embarrassment to the Corps.”
“As a veteran, I’d kick this man’s ass into 2025. And use a grinder to get rid of that frackin tattoo of his. In the military color has no meaning. In the 10 years, I was in I depended on People to have my back the same as I had theirs. We were brothers and sisters.”
Some just called it what it was:
“Dirt nap waiting to happen”
“POS”
—
Want to make sure you never miss a story from Law Enforcement Today? With so much “stuff” happening in the world on social media, it’s easy for things to get lost.
Make sure you click “following” and then click “see first” so you don’t miss a thing! (See image below.) Thanks for being a part of the LET family!
