American soldier charged with falsely denying ties to group supporting government overthrow

An active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Liberty in North Carolina, Kai Liam Nix, also known as Kai Brazelton, has been indicted on charges related to lying to military authorities and trafficking firearms. The indictment, brought by a grand jury and announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, alleges that Nix falsified information on his security clearance application by denying membership in a group advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government, despite being a member. Details about the group were not provided in the indictment or news release. Nix is also accused of dealing in firearms without a license and selling a stolen firearm, activities that allegedly took place late last year and early this year. The specific types of firearms involved were not disclosed.

Nix made his first appearance in federal court on Monday and was ordered to be held pending a detention hearing later in the week. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Nix was appointed a public defender, but no lawyer was listed in online court records at the time of the announcement. The Office of the Federal Public Defender in Raleigh received an after-hours phone message seeking further information.

The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr.’s office in collaboration with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Department.