Derrick Bernard Jr., 36, and Ashley Blackcloud, 40, were found guilty by a federal jury for their roles in a conspiracy to threaten or convey false information. The charges stemmed from an incident where they burned a cross in front of a campaign sign belonging to a Black political candidate, which had been defaced with a racial slur. The event occurred on April 23, 2023, just weeks before the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election.
During the trial, evidence showed that Bernard contacted the threatened candidate ten days prior to the cross burning, claiming he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother” and then texted Blackcloud stating, “I got a plan.” Following the incident, Bernard and Blackcloud collaborated to send an email containing video and photographic evidence of the cross burning to the candidate, media outlets, and various organizations. The email falsely accused the candidate’s political opponent of orchestrating the crime. They also disseminated misleading information about the incident on social media platforms.
The conspiracy came to light when surveillance footage reviewed by the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) showed three individuals staging the crime early in the morning. Further investigation by CSPD and FBI efforts identified Bernard and Blackcloud as participants in this hoax.
Sentencing for Derrick Bernard is set for September 11, 2025, while Ashley Blackcloud will be sentenced on September 17, 2025. A co-defendant, Deanna West, pleaded guilty to conspiracy earlier in March and is scheduled for sentencing on September 4, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with significant support from CSPD. Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Candyce Cline are prosecuting the case.
