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3 alleged members of 'anti-capitalist' group plead not guilty in SoCal bomb plot
Central District of California First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described the alleged New Year's Eve bombing plot as "a planned terrorist attack on American soil."
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Andrew Harnik
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
Three people accused of being involved in an “anti-capitalist” group and plotting a New Year’s Eve bombing attack in Southern California have pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges, with the fourth expected to appear in federal court later this month.
Why it matters: Four Southern California defendants are alleged to be part of an anti-capitalist and anti-government group called the “Turtle Island Liberation Front,” according to the indictment released last month.
Each defendant is charged in what federal prosecutors described as “a planned terrorist attack on American soil.”
The defendants:
- Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30, a.k.a. “Asiginaak,” and “Black Moon,” of South Los Angeles
- Zachary Aaron Page, 32, a.k.a. “AK,” “Ash Kerrigan,” and “Cthulu’s Daughter,” of Torrance
- Dante James Anthony-Gaffield, 24, a.k.a. “Nomad,” of South Los Angeles
- Tina Lai, 41, a.k.a. “Kickwhere,” of Glendale
They each face one count of providing and or attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and one count of possession of unregistered firearms. Both Carroll and Page are charged with an additional count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Why now: Carroll and Page pleaded not guilty during their respective arraignments Monday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, according to Page’s attorney and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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Lai pleaded not guilty last week, attorney Humberto Diaz confirmed to LAist.
Gaffield is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 20, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The backstory: The FBI arrested the defendants on Dec. 12. A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against them less than two weeks later.
The group is accused of targeting Southern California businesses with a New Year’s Eve bombing plot, including technology and logistics companies.
According to the indictment, Carroll and Page described plans for targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and vehicles with firearms and pipe bombs to “take some of them out and scare the rest of them.”
The arrests happened while the defendants were in the Mojave Desert, where they intended to build and test explosives as part of the plot, according to prosecutors.
If convicted as charged, Carroll and Page could be sentenced to life in federal prison. Gaffield and Lai could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison.
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Go deeper: 4 members of alleged 'anti-capitalist' group indicted in SoCal bomb plot
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