RICHMOND — Five employees at the FBI Richmond Field Office lost their jobs last week over an internal memorandum that the field office wrote three and a half years ago to raise concerns about the potential for domestic terrorism from "radical traditionalist Catholics" because of a case involving a Henrico County resident who was convicted in federal court for possessing Molotov cocktails and other "destructive devices" after publicly advocating violence against police and perceived political opponents.
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In this file photo, former FBI Special Agent in Charge Stanley Meador, middle right, is shown alongside Henrico Police Chief Eric English, right, and John Venuti, middle left, associate vice president for public safety at VCU. Meador lost his job last year over a memorandum written three years ago to raise concerns about the potential for domestic terrorism from "radical traditionalist Catholics."
Molotov cocktails were seized from Xavier Louis Lopez’s residence in Henrico County in 2022. In a letter to Congress two years ago, DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz said that a Richmond FBI task force that had been monitoring Lopez since 2019 considered him the field office's "highest priority domestic terrorism subject."
PHOTOS: Richmond 3000
FBI Special Agent in Charge Stanley Meador, right, runs laps with (L-R) Anna Lichiello, FBI agent supervisor; Scott Duquette, FBI task force officer from the Chesterfield County Police Department; and Doug West, FBI task force officer from the Henrico County Police Division Wednesday, September 7, 2022. The laps are being counted as part of Richmond 3000 to remember victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to honor first responders who died that day and who battle illnesses associated with the attacks. The event culminates on Friday.
Richmond’s FBI holds Richmond 3000 to remember those killed during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA. on September 11, 2001. They also are honoring the first responders who died that day and battle illnesses associated with the attacks. Photo was taken on Friday, September 9, 2022.
Names of FBI employees, who were killed during or as a result of illnesses related to the September 11th terrorist attacks, are listed on the pavement at the Richmond FBI Field Office for Richmond 3000 Friday, September 9, 2022. The event was to remember those killed during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA. on September 11, 2001. They also are honoring the first responders who died that day and battle illnesses associated with the attacks.
Names of FBI employees, who were killed during or as a result of illnesses related to the September 11th terrorist attacks, are listed on the pavement at the Richmond FBI Field Office for Richmond 3000 Friday, September 9, 2022. The event was to remember those killed during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA. on September 11, 2001. They also are honoring the first responders who died that day and battle illnesses associated with the attacks.
Runners and walkers complete laps around the Richmond FBI Field Office during the Richmond 3,000 on Friday.
David Lewis, FBI assistant special agent in charge over national security and cyber, talks with reporters during Richmond 3000 at the Richmond FBI Field Office Friday, September 9, 2022. The event was to remember those killed during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA. on September 11, 2001. They also are honoring the first responders who died that day and battle illnesses associated with the attacks.
Eric Davis, FBI operational support technician, writes a message on the pavement for Richmond 3000 at the Richmond FBI Field Office Friday, September 9, 2022. Runners and walkers were doing laps around the building to remember those killed during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA. on September 11, 2001. They also are honoring the first responders who died that day and battle illnesses associated with the attacks.
Runners and walkers make laps around the Richmond FBI Field Office during Richmond 3000 Friday, September 9, 2022. The event was to remember those killed during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and those on the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA. on September 11, 2001. They also are honoring the first responders who died that day and battle illnesses associated with the attacks.
