2 plead not guilty in alleged New Year’s Eve bomb plot in California

LOS ANGELES – Two alleged members of an extremist group pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of planned coordinated bombing attacks on New Year’s Eve across Southern California — a suspected plot that was derailed by authorities weeks earlier.

Audrey Carroll, 30, of South Los Angeles, and Zachary Aaron Page, 32, of Torrance, were arraigned in Los Angeles federal court.

The pair are charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and possession of unregistered firearms. If convicted as charged, Carroll and Page could face up to life in federal prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

A third defendant, Tina Lai, 41, of Glendale, pleaded not guilty Friday to the last two charges, while a fourth suspected member of the group, Dante Gaffield, 24, of South Los Angeles, is set for arraignment Jan. 20.

Trial was tentatively set for Feb. 17.

Turtle Island Liberation Front

The indictment contends that the four defendants are part of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, an anti-capitalist, anti-Israel and anti-government group. They also are members of what Carroll characterized as a “radical” TILF faction that communicated using an encrypted messaging group called Order of the Black Lotus, federal prosecutors allege.

The suspects were arrested Dec. 12 in the Mojave Desert as they unloaded bomb-making materials from their cars in preparation to construct and test explosives that were to be used in coordinated attacks on targets throughout the region, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.

In November, Carroll allegedly drafted an eight-page, handwritten document that described a bombing plot targeting US businesses across Southern California on New Year’s Eve.

Essayli did not name the companies being targeted, but described them as “Amazon-type” logistical centers.

Federal prosecutors contend Page used an encrypted messaging application to send a message to co-conspirators, including Carroll and Gaffield, proclaiming “death” to Israel, the U.S. and “colonizers.” Carroll responded, “Death to them all, burn it all down,” court papers allege.

Throughout early December, the defendants procured bomb-making materials to build and test explosive devices in the Mojave Desert, including by obtaining materials such as potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal and pipes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors say the plot included planting backpacks filled with explosive devices at multiple businesses that were set to blow up simultaneously at midnight on Dec. 31.

The group also allegedly planned to target U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and vehicles with pipe bombs in the ensuing months, Essayli said.

The suspects were arrested in the desert near Twentynine Palms before they were able to finish building an actual destructive device, authorities said. The complaint includes photos showing a campsite with what prosecutors say were bomb-making materials spread across folding tables.

“The charges … reflect the seriousness of the conduct: a planned terrorist attack on American soil on New Year’s Eve,” Essayli said in a statement. “If convicted, this group of self-professed left wing radicals will face decades in federal prison. We will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all terror groups and bring them to justice.” (CNS)

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