FBI arrests Oregon trans 'Nazi' who threatened blacks, Jews

The FBI arrested a trans-identified Oregon woman on Friday who allegedly made a series of credible violent threats towards minority groups, including Jews, black people, and immigrants.

Elizabeth Ballesteros West, 56, of Cottage Grove, has been taken into custody and is being held at the Lane County Jail, according to the Oregonian.



Court records show that authorities were first alerted to West in September when she had posted on a transgender women’s support group page on Facebook claiming that she was being bullied by "transphobic" coworkers, and saying that she had reached "the end of my rope."

West's social media posts included a vow to carry out acts of violence and included photos of firearms, per the affidavit.

It also reported that West said in a post that she will "have to go out in a blaze of glory" and will "have to do what I have to do and pray for the gods to forgive me."



West, who has been diagnosed with multiple mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, dissociative disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, issued further threats on X in December, records show.

The affidavit states that West posted hatred against Jews, black people, and immigrants on X. She included photos of a Nazi flag and firearms in the post. West indicated that she was pleased with how the Nazi regime "herded" Jews into gas chambers during the Holocaust.

On Tuesday, the FBI executed a search warrant of West's home and vehicle and recovered: 11 handguns, 16 rifles, one pistol, and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, according to court documents.





Authorities also located a journal, that West had titled the "Black shadow journal," which included unspecified notes and drawings.

A passage in the journal, according to the affidavit, reads "Blood, death, self torture self hatred wicked thoughts of mass murder at the gloved hands of the veil mistress."

The FBI had met with West three times since October before taking her into custody.

The federal agency indicated that West "constitutes an interstate threat" due to its findings.

FBI agent Damara Gonzalez wrote in the affidavit that West had expressed a “clear violent animus toward specific minority groups," indicating a “willingness to elevate her original threat of violence towards minority groups."

During the arrest, authorities said that West refused to voluntarily give up a stash of weapons and ammo to the sheriff's department.

Court records show that West was born under the name Francisco "Frank" Paramo. He went by the alias Wyona Wild before legally changing his name to Elizabeth Ballesteros West in October.