An Atlantic City man used Facebook to incite a riot, according to federal charges.Carlos Matchett, 30, allegedly had a backpack containing a knife, hatchet and jar filled with gasoline when he was arrested during riots that followed an hours-long peaceful protest Sunday in Atlantic City. Matchett was in the center of the road near the Tanger Outlets, shouting obscenities at law enforcement and enticing persons around him to join in looting, according to the federal complaint.Atlantic City police reported his arrest under Carlos Marchett, charging him with unlawful possession of a weapon, riot and violation of an emergency order. He was released, and even posted about his opinion of Atlantic City's post-riot imposed curfew.
But a federal investigation led FBI agents to charge him Wednesday with using a facility of interstate and foreign commerce with intent to participate in and carry on a riot.“LET’S START a RIOT” he wrote in a Facebook post at 5:42 p.m. Sunday, with a link to a story on the riots in Philadelphia.He also has video from a protest in Philadelphia.In another video, which has since been removed, looting and rioting at Tanger Outlets is shown, according to the federal complaint.Matchett is allegedly heard telling a group standing near a storefront with a broken window to go inside and take property, saying that he would provide cover for them.Investigators were unable to download the video before it was removed, according to the complaint. The FBI has submitted a preservation request to Facebook for Matchett’s page.
The charge carries a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski in Newark and the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their assistance. The Task Force includes the Atlantic City Police Department and New Jersey State Police.
