COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A man convicted of killing someone in 2019 is one of three suspects in an investigation into a possible hate crime hoax last year.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently unsealed indictments against three people in connection with the burning of a cross in front of a mayoral candidate’s campaign sign bearing a racial slur. The video in question appeared to target Mayor Yemi Mobolade, who was running against Wayne Williams in the mayoral election at the time.

Now investigators believe it was staged by Derrick Bernard Jr., Ashley Blackcloud, and Deanna West to help Mobolade’s campaign.

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Blackcloud has already appeared before a judge. So far, West has not been found and is considered a fugitive.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bernard is currently in state custody and is expected to be transferred to federal custody.

Until that happens, he will remain in the El Paso County jail after being convicted of killing a man in 2019.

Bernard was arrested earlier this year on charges of first-degree murder. Those charges were upgraded to first-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison last week, according to court documents obtained by 11 News. That’s why he was arrested Death of William UnderwoodAn aspiring rapper known as “FYL Jackk”.

Bernard is accused of planning and executing a plan to burn a cross, deface a campaign sign with a racial slur, and share a video of it with various news organizations.

According to the indictment, he was also possibly linked to then-candidate Yemi Mobolade. Newspapers say Mobolade sent numerous messages, including after he won the second election: “Sir… we all took our time and got through all this, brother.” Less than a month has passed since the burning cross.

The newspapers also reported that Bernard had a five-minute conversation on the phone just three days after the incident, but the newspapers did not share the details of that conversation.

11 News asked Mayor Mobolade what was being discussed. We have not yet received a response specifically on this issue, but he shared the following statement regarding the entire incident:

This incident during my campaign led to a very traumatic time for my family, my campaign team, and our community. My knowledge and interaction with Bernard was as a local media personality and I was unaware at the time that he was suspected of this crime. I appreciate the work of local and federal law enforcement to ensure justice and send the message that we will not tolerate such reprehensible behavior.

Although Bernard was found guilty of murder, he has not yet been found guilty of those charges, which include conspiracy to commit a crime or defraud the United States and using the means of interstate commerce to maliciously transmit false information to intimidate someone by fire.

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