wiley cope

@wileycope.bsky.social

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open source researcher & occasional investigative reporter (allegedly); bylines @theguardian.com wileydcope@proton.me | signal: @wiley.50

Top image: A masked Avery Ross Ruiz of Lone Star Active Club flexes at a Patriot Front rally in Washington DC on July 4, 2026. Bottom image: Avery Ross Ruiz flexes prior to his knockout loss at Dia de los Mexicanos in Houston, TX on May 9, 2026.
Undated photo of Avery Ross Ruiz wearing a t-shirt that says "Domestic Terrorist."
Undated photo of Avery Ross Ruiz
Undated photo of Lone Star Active Club member and Streets Fight Club America lead Avery Ross Ruiz.
May 26, 2024 Instagram post showing Leslie Sneddon posing with her son Marston Sneddon at Marston's wedding.
Undated image of Marston Sneddon (left) posing with Avery Ross Ruiz (right) in the private Lone Star Active Club gym in Texas.
December 2018 photo of former Charleston, WV police officer Joshua Hunt following his graduation from the West Virginia State Police Academy.
Undated photo showing Wolves of Vinland founder Paul Waggener posing with Maurice Michaely, aka Hjalti.
Undated photo showing Joshua Hunt posing with children at the private gym he runs in West Virginia.
December 14, 2018 Facebook post from the Charleston, WV Police Department congratulating Joshua Hunt as a recent WV State Police Academy graduate.
Screenshot of Joshua Hunt's Telegram profile where he goes by the username "WVJosh." The profile photo is a group pic of the "Confederation of American Natives" team from Forest Fights. In the black tanktop is Joshua Hunt. Next to him is Maurice Michaely, a Wolves of Vinland member who was convicted in 2013 of felony arson for burning down a historic Black church in Gainesville, VA.
An undated photo shows a smiling Logan Florence. It was taken from the website of a metro Atlanta sports clinic. Following publication by The Guardian last week, photos of Florence were scrubbed from the business’s website and social media.
June 5, 2019 Facebook post from Otwell Middle School in Forsyth County, GA. The caption states: "Please welcome Logan Florence! As a first year teacher, Logan is excited and highly honored to be a part of the Bulldog family at Otwell! He graduated with a bachelor's degree in History Education from UNG and spent the first few years pursuing his degree at Kennesaw State University. Logan grew up around the Fulton/Forsyth area and considers it home and is thrilled to be starting his career in such familiar territory. When not teaching, Logan co-runs a historical reenactment group, enjoys working out, and has a love and passion for fantasy literature. He will be teaching 8th grade Social Studies."
A video screenshot shows Logan Florence, left, participating in a combat event with active club and Wolves of Vinland members.
Image from the December 6, 2025 Forest Fight in Lynchburg, VA.
March 13, 2026 Instagram story from Wolves of Vinland founder Paul Waggener who was a guest referee for Forest Fights.
March 6, 2026 group photo of the “Koryos” team. Back row L to R: Caleb Johnston (Wolves of Vinland), Russell Coleman (Hammerskins), Gentry Martell (Wolves of Vinland), Marston Sneddon (Wolves of Vinland). Front row L to R: Avery Ross Ruiz (Lone Star Active Club), Jahnu Gibbs (Wolves of Vinland), unknown.
March 6, 2026 group photo from the Wolves of Vinland compound in Lynchburg, VA showing participants of "Forest Fights."
February 3, 2026 Instagram post from a Russian street fight promotion called Streets Fight Club. The post shows Ian Michael Elliott using the alias “Norman.” The caption reads: “SFC America: Norman will be spilling his blood at the next event in America. Big announcements coming soon.”
A still from a video posted on Telegram by Patriot Front shows a masked Ian Elliott, identifiable by his upper facial features and visible neck tattoo, standing behind the group’s founder, Thomas Rousseau, at the March for Life in Washington DC on January 23, 2025.
November 11, 2025 Instagram post from Knight Division Tactical. The post is a gif from the 2005 movie “Kingdom of Heaven.” The caption on the gif is a fictionalized Reuters headline that says, “KDT offers Private Military actions in Nigeria over treatment of Christians.” The post states, “Apply now to be considered.”
Ian Michael Elliott’s five-star Google review for Knight Division Tactical. He writes, “Stellar company, sharp agents, quality work!”
Patriot Front leader Thomas Rousseau (left) poses with Ian Michael Elliott (right) at a 2024 fight tournament in Southern California between Patriot Front and the neo-nazi Active Club network.
Red Triangle Circus Gang member Wiley D. Cope poses with a squirt gun.
Excerpt from January 15, 2026 article from the Texas Observer by Steven Monacelli and Tristan Lee. “On Google Maps or other review websites, all four of the businesses identified by the Observer have given positive reviews to or received positive reviews from one of the other three companies or individuals who work for or run the companies. These reviews also indicate that at least three of the four companies have done business with at least one of the three other companies or associated individuals.”
Screenshot from VINELink showing Jayden Daniel Scott was booked into Bay County Jail in Bay City, Michigan on January 16, 2026 and is scheduled for release on January 22.
January 17, 2025 post from an anti-Muslim group on Facebook that co-organized a “crusade on Minneapolis” with neo-nazi provocateur Jake Lang. The post reads: AAI Founder Jake Lang Injured During Minneapolis Protest. Jake Lang, a leader associated with the Americans Against Islamification (AAl) movement, was injured today during a protest in Minneapolis while exercising his First Amendment rights. According to statements from Lang and eyewitnesses present at the scene, the demonstration was met by a significantly larger group of counter-protesters. What began as verbal confrontation reportedly escalated into physical violence. Lang sustained injuries during the chaos and has stated that he was stabbed amid the clashes. Video circulating online shows him bleeding and being forcibly pursued through city streets as the situation deteriorated. At this time, law enforcement has not publicly confirmed the nature or source of the injuries, and details remain under investigation. Several individuals who were with Lang were also injured during the incident. AAI representatives say six colleagues were hurt, with one individual, identified as Jayden Scott, currently reported to be in critical condition. The protest was ultimately disrupted and dispersed as violence overtook the area. Supporters say the incident highlights ongoing concerns about political violence and the safety of lawful demonstrators, regardless of viewpoint.
October 20, 2025 post on the blue check verified Streets Fight Club Instagram account. The image shows fighters from SFC America and the caption reads: "CAN'T STOP US. WE ARE EVERYWHERE."
Screenshot from an April 2025 SFC promotional video for the "Slaughter Smokey Mountain" fight tournament featuring Patria Gloria member Andrew Lindgren, billed as "Drew."
Photo from the March 2024 "American Muscle" tournament in Muenster, Texas. Patriot Front leader Thomas Rousseau (left) poses with Tristan Rettke, aka "Sporty."
Screenshot from an April 2025 SFC promotional video for the "Slaughter Smokey Mountain" fight tournament featuring Tennessee Active Club member Thomas Grady, aka "Dagda."
Screenshot from an April 2025 SFC promotional video for the "Slaughter Smokey Mountain" fight tournament featuring Thomas Francis Denton, aka "Phoenix."
Undated image showing SFC America fighter Avery Ross Ruiz, aka "Panzzer." Ruiz is a member of the Texas-based Lone Star Active Club.
April 2025 SFC promotional image for the “Slaughter Smokey Mountain” tournament showing the masked referee wearing a straw hat.
August 6, 2025 post from the SFC Telegram channel showing a masked man in camouflage with an SFC patch posing next to a dirtbike. The post includes the hashtag #SFCFamily and a caption in Russian that translates to, “Well,do you understand Russian?”