Daily Stormer writer sanctioned again in Unite the Right suit

TL;DR

Ray Sanctioned: A former Daily Stormer writer was sanctioned again by federal court in the Sines v. Kessler lawsuit over the 2017 Unite the Right rally.[[1]](https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_a5adcb00-1d67-11ec-9daf-9ba8abe2bf8d.html)[[2]](https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-daily-stormer-writer-again-sanctioned-by-federal-court/article_a5adcb00-1d67-11ec-9daf-9ba8abe2bf8d.html)
Evidentiary Sanctions: Court deemed Ray's social media authentic and established facts of his conspiracy for racially motivated violence at Charlottesville events.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)
Noncompliance Penalty: Sanctions followed Ray's repeated failure to attend depositions and obey discovery orders despite prior contempt finding.[[4]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1631543519-2021-09-13-01059-000-second-motion-for-attorney-fees-recoverable-from-robert.pdf)

The story at a glance

A federal court in Charlottesville sanctioned Robert "Azzmador" Ray, a former writer for the neo-Nazi site Daily Stormer, for ongoing discovery violations in a civil lawsuit brought by rally victims against Unite the Right organizers. The sanctions came after Ray ignored multiple court orders to produce documents and appear for depositions. This ruling follows earlier sanctions and a contempt finding against him in September 2020.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

Key points

Robert "Azzmador" Ray, a Texas neo-Nazi, wrote for Daily Stormer with Andrew Anglin and helped organize the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)
During the August 11 torch march, Ray shouted racist slogans like "The heat here is nothing compared to what you’re going to get in the ovens!" and led marchers.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)
On August 12, he carried a banner saying "Gas the kikes, race war now!" and livestreamed the rally.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)
Court imposed evidentiary sanctions on September 22, 2021, deeming his social media posts authentic and facts like his racial animus and conspiracy established.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)
Earlier March 2021 sanctions allowed jury to infer Ray withheld damaging evidence; September 3 ordered him to pay plaintiffs' attorney fees for missed depositions.[[5]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1616684174-2021-03-25-00933-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-plaintiffs-motion-for.pdf)[[4]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1631543519-2021-09-13-01059-000-second-motion-for-attorney-fees-recoverable-from-robert.pdf)
Ray faces a bench warrant for civil contempt since September 2020 and is a fugitive on state charges for releasing gas at the torch march.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

Details and context

The article covers sanctions in Sines v. Kessler, a civil suit under the Ku Klux Klan Act by nine counter-protesters injured during the 2017 Unite the Right events, alleging organizers conspired for violence. Ray's role included promoting the rally on Daily Stormer, coordinating gear like pepper spray and shields, and participating actively.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

His pattern of defiance—ignoring notices sent to his email, skipping depositions despite orders, and staying fugitive—led to escalating penalties to ensure fairness before the 2021 trial. Prior less severe measures like motions to compel failed.[[5]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1616684174-2021-03-25-00933-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-plaintiffs-motion-for.pdf)

The Western District of Virginia court found bad faith, prejudice to plaintiffs, and need for deterrence, imposing facts-as-established sanctions under Rule 37 without striking claims entirely.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

Key quotes

None reported in visible sources.

Why it matters

Civil suits like this hold white supremacists accountable when criminal cases stall, using discovery to expose planning and force financial hits on groups. For victims and the public, it levels the field against defiant defendants, preserving evidence for trial despite evasion. Watch Ray's fee payment, potential arrest on warrants, and trial outcomes where sanctions shape jury findings, though collecting damages remains uncertain.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

What changed

(1) Before September 2021, Ray faced prior sanctions like a March 2021 adverse inference and September 2020 contempt with bench warrant. (2) Court now deems 10+ facts established against him, including conspiracy for violence driven by racial animus, and his social media authentic. (3) Sanctions issued September 22, 2021.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

FAQ

Q: Who is Robert "Azzmador" Ray?

A: Ray is a neo-Nazi podcaster and former Daily Stormer writer who promoted and attended the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. He carried racist banners, shouted slurs during the torch march, and livestreamed events.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

Q: Why was Ray sanctioned by the court?

A: Ray repeatedly violated discovery orders by not producing documents or attending depositions, despite notices and warnings, prejudicing plaintiffs' case preparation.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

Q: What do the sanctions mean for the case?

A: They establish facts like Ray's conspiracy agreement for racially motivated violence and deem his social media authentic, aiding plaintiffs without his testimony.[[3]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1632340953-2021-09-22-01106-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-granting-in-part-and-denying.pdf)

Q: What prior penalties did Ray face?

A: In March 2021, court allowed adverse inferences for withheld evidence; earlier contempt led to a bench warrant for missing a hearing.[[5]](https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1616684174-2021-03-25-00933-000-memorandum-opinion-and-order-plaintiffs-motion-for.pdf)