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Oakland boogaloo attack: 4 California militia members plead guilty to conspiracy
Source: Associated Press
4 California militia members plead guilty to conspiracy
September 23, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Four members of an alleged California militia group have pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice in the case of a federal guard who was fatally shot in Oakland more than a year ago, federal prosecutors said.
The men — followers of the “boogaloo” movement, a concept embraced by a loose network of gun enthusiasts and militia-style extremists — are accused of conspiring to destroy communications and other records about the May 29, 2020, killing of federal security officer David Patrick Underwood and attempted murder of his partner by one of their members.
Underwood was fatally shot and his partner was shot and wounded as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland while a large demonstration over the police killing of George Floyd was underway nearby. Prosecutors have accused a fifth alleged member of the group of opening fire.
In April, a federal grand jury indicted Jessie Alexander Rush, 29, of Turlock; Robert Jesus Blancas, 33, of Castro Valley; Simon Sage Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Matthew Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo, on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Miksch on Monday became the fourth member of the so-called Grizzly Scouts to plead guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice. Rush and Ybarra pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice last week and Blancas last month, according to recent plea agreements with the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office that were announced Monday.
-snip-
September 23, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Four members of an alleged California militia group have pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice in the case of a federal guard who was fatally shot in Oakland more than a year ago, federal prosecutors said.
The men — followers of the “boogaloo” movement, a concept embraced by a loose network of gun enthusiasts and militia-style extremists — are accused of conspiring to destroy communications and other records about the May 29, 2020, killing of federal security officer David Patrick Underwood and attempted murder of his partner by one of their members.
Underwood was fatally shot and his partner was shot and wounded as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland while a large demonstration over the police killing of George Floyd was underway nearby. Prosecutors have accused a fifth alleged member of the group of opening fire.
In April, a federal grand jury indicted Jessie Alexander Rush, 29, of Turlock; Robert Jesus Blancas, 33, of Castro Valley; Simon Sage Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Matthew Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo, on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Miksch on Monday became the fourth member of the so-called Grizzly Scouts to plead guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice. Rush and Ybarra pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice last week and Blancas last month, according to recent plea agreements with the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office that were announced Monday.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-california-oakland-conspiracy-7b2e869161bec7a67625413a76e6d156
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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office - Northern District of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 20, 2021
Four Militia Group Members Plead Guilty To Obstruction Of Justice Conspiracy
“Grizzly Scouts” Members Conspired to Thwart Investigation into the Murder of a Protective Security Officer and the Shooting of Another; One Defendant Also Pleads to Enticing a 15-Year-Old Girl to Produce Child Pornography
SAN FRANCISCO – Four members of the “Grizzly Scouts” militia group, a group connected to the “boogaloo” movement, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice by destroying records connected to the investigation of the murder of a federal Protective Security Officer (PSO) contracted to the Federal Protective Service and the shooting and attempted murder of a second PSO on May 29, 2020, at the Oakland federal building, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
Jessie Rush, 29, of Turlock; Robert Blancas, 33, a transient resident of the Bay Area; Simon Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo, were indicted on March 23, 2021, in connection with their scheme to obstruct justice by destroying records material to the murder and shooting investigation. Today, Kenny Miksch pleaded guilty in United States District Court, the last of the four defendants to do so.
According to each of their plea agreements entered into at the time of their guilty pleas, Rush, Blancas, Ybarra, and Miksch admitted that in April 2020 they joined an armed anti-government militia group named the “1st Detachment, 1st California Grizzly Scouts” (Grizzly Scouts). They had connected earlier via a Facebook group created in connection to the “boogaloo” movement. “Boogaloo” is a term, as noted in their indictment, used by some militia extremists to reference a purportedly impending politically-motivated civil war or uprising against the government. The “boogaloo” movement is not a single cohesive group but rather a loose concept used as a rallying point for some extremists.
According to their plea agreements, Rush named himself the Commanding Officer of the Grizzly Scouts and assumed the rank of “Major.” Blancas assumed the rank of “1st Lieutenant” with responsibilities for the group’s security and intelligence. Ybarra received the rank of “Corporal” and handled recruitment. Miksch received the rank of “1st Lieutenant” with responsibilities for the group’s training and firearms instruction.
-snip-
Monday, September 20, 2021
Four Militia Group Members Plead Guilty To Obstruction Of Justice Conspiracy
“Grizzly Scouts” Members Conspired to Thwart Investigation into the Murder of a Protective Security Officer and the Shooting of Another; One Defendant Also Pleads to Enticing a 15-Year-Old Girl to Produce Child Pornography
SAN FRANCISCO – Four members of the “Grizzly Scouts” militia group, a group connected to the “boogaloo” movement, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice by destroying records connected to the investigation of the murder of a federal Protective Security Officer (PSO) contracted to the Federal Protective Service and the shooting and attempted murder of a second PSO on May 29, 2020, at the Oakland federal building, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
Jessie Rush, 29, of Turlock; Robert Blancas, 33, a transient resident of the Bay Area; Simon Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo, were indicted on March 23, 2021, in connection with their scheme to obstruct justice by destroying records material to the murder and shooting investigation. Today, Kenny Miksch pleaded guilty in United States District Court, the last of the four defendants to do so.
According to each of their plea agreements entered into at the time of their guilty pleas, Rush, Blancas, Ybarra, and Miksch admitted that in April 2020 they joined an armed anti-government militia group named the “1st Detachment, 1st California Grizzly Scouts” (Grizzly Scouts). They had connected earlier via a Facebook group created in connection to the “boogaloo” movement. “Boogaloo” is a term, as noted in their indictment, used by some militia extremists to reference a purportedly impending politically-motivated civil war or uprising against the government. The “boogaloo” movement is not a single cohesive group but rather a loose concept used as a rallying point for some extremists.
According to their plea agreements, Rush named himself the Commanding Officer of the Grizzly Scouts and assumed the rank of “Major.” Blancas assumed the rank of “1st Lieutenant” with responsibilities for the group’s security and intelligence. Ybarra received the rank of “Corporal” and handled recruitment. Miksch received the rank of “1st Lieutenant” with responsibilities for the group’s training and firearms instruction.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/four-militia-group-members-plead-guilty-obstruction-justice-conspiracy