Key Takeaways:
- Four members of the anti-capitalist and anti-government group "Turtle Island Liberation Front" have been arrested for allegedly plotting to attack two U.S. companies with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on New Year’s Eve.
- The group planned to target ICE agents and vehicles, and had acquired materials to construct the devices, including bomb-making materials and pipes.
- The defendants, including Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante Gaffield, and Tina Lai, face charges of conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
- The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the matter, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies.
- The defendants could face up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted.
Introduction to the Plot
The Turtle Island Liberation Front, a far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group, had been planning a series of bombings against multiple targets in California, including two U.S. companies, on New Year’s Eve. The group, which advocates for violence against U.S. officials, had been promoting anti-capitalist and anti-government sentiment on social media. According to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, the group’s plans were disrupted by the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, ensuring that Americans can live in peace. The FBI Director, Kash Patel, stated that the defendants allegedly acquired materials to construct the devices, planned to test them in the Mojave Desert, and used encrypted communications in an attempt to evade detection.
The Investigation and Arrests
The investigation into the plot was led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The defendants, Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante Gaffield, and Tina Lai, were arrested on Friday in the Mojave Desert and are charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Carroll is a member of the Turtle Island Liberation Front and had provided a handwritten document titled "Operation Midnight Sun" to co-conspirators, which described a bombing plot. The plan called for backpacks with bombs to be simultaneously detonated at five or more locations targeting two U.S. companies at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
The Plot and the Defendants’ Actions
The defendants took numerous steps toward executing the bombing plot, including acquiring bomb-making materials and traveling to a remote location in the Mojave Desert to construct and detonate test bombs. While in the desert, the co-conspirators took steps to begin construction of the devices, including unloading the bomb-making materials from their cars and beginning to assemble the materials on a table. They also constructed a tent to keep the bomb materials shaded from the sun and wiped down the interior of one of the pipes used for the bombs. Carroll discussed grinding a precursor for use in an explosive powder, and the group planned to test the devices in the desert before carrying out the attack. The FBI agents intervened and arrested the defendants before they completed assembling a functional bomb.
The Charges and Potential Sentencing
The defendants face charges of conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, and could face up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing to investigate the matter, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies and FBI field offices in Boston, Buffalo, and New Orleans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello, Amanda B. Elbogen, and Daniel H. Weiner for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Conclusion and Implications
The arrests of the four members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front mark a significant disruption of a domestic terrorist plot, and demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to preventing violent acts and protecting the American people. As stated by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, "This country protects the right to hold extreme views about its past, present, and future, but violence is an unmistakable and enforceable line." The National Security Division is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who cross that line, and the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to keep the homeland safe and prevent future attacks. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in preventing domestic terrorism and protecting national security.