Latest news with #HobbsAct
Int'l Business Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Pam Bondi Compares LA to a 'Third World Country' in Vow to Charge LA Protesters: 'Get Ready'
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi likened Los Angeles to a "Third World country" as she warned anti-ICE protesters that they could face a range of federal charges. On Monday, which marked the fourth day of consecutive protests across Los Angeles county, Bondi told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity that the Trump administration is "going to enforce the law" regardless of what California officials do. "Look at it out there," Bondi stated, "it looks like a Third World country, and it's not. It's the United States of America." The Justice Department's leader went on to say that the administration will also protect the Los Angeles Police Department, which includes federally prosecuting anyone that assaults an officer, citing 18 U.S. Code Section 231. She revealed the administration has nine open cases on assaulting federal officers with "more to come." Bondi added that, while an administration does not "typically" charge for looting, she will under the Hobbs Act, "which prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce." "We are charging robbery. You loot a business in California, you are looking at a maximum of 20 years in prison," she continued. "You spit on a federal law enforcement officer—no more. As President Trump said 'you spit, we hit.' Get ready." The attorney general continued to say that protesters who spit on federal law enforcement officers, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, will receive up to five years in federal prison. Also on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging it unlawfully deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Sunday without Gov. Gavin Newsom's consent. Newsom condemned the move as "a serious breach of state sovereignty." Originally published on Latin Times
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ identifies suspect accused of assaulting federal officer, as Trump vows tough response
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday that the suspect accused of assaulting a federal officer during the anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles has been identified. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli identified Elpidio Reyna as the suspect who was captured on video allegedly throwing rocks at federal officers in Paramount, California. The FBI initially asked for the public's help by offering a $50,000 cash reward for information leading to the man's arrest. He was accused of injuring a federal officer after throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, according to the FBI. Bondi was a guest on "Hannity" Monday night, when she broke the news to host Sean Hannity. Fbi Searching For Suspect Who Allegedly Assaulted Federal Officer During Anti-ice Riots In Los Angeles "The FBI has identified him," Bondi said. "That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house, as we speak. And he has been identified…his name is [Reyna]. He is going to be on the Most Wanted list. Read On The Fox News App "He has been identified by the great police work by the FBI," she continued. "So, you can run, you can't hide. We are coming after you federally. If you assault a police officer, if you rob a store, if you loot, if you spit on police officers, we're coming after you." Bondi told Hannity that federal authorities have the ability to go after looters and those throwing Molotov cocktails and committing other crimes under the Hobbs Act. Those who loot a business in California, Bondi said, will face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Those who spit on federal law enforcement officers will also serve time. Patel Promises Fbi Coming For Anyone Assaulting Cops As Los Angeles Erupts Over Ice Raids "As President Trump said: 'You spit, we hit,'" Bondi said. "Get ready. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, we are going to charge you with a crime federally. You are looking at up to five years maximum in prison." On Saturday at about 3:30 p.m., the now-identified suspect allegedly threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Blvd. in Paramount, California, resulting in injury to a federal officer and damage to government vehicles. Federal Officials Slam Democrats For 'Dangerous' Rhetoric As Ice Agents Face Violent Mobs In La, Nyc The FBI said in a wanted poster that the suspect is considered armed and dangerous. FBI Director Kash Patel warned Saturday night, "if you assault a law enforcement officer, you're going to jail—period." "It doesn't matter where you came from, how you got here, or what cause you claim to represent," Patel told Fox News Digital. "If local jurisdictions won't stand behind the men and women who wear the badge, the FBI will." Patel also issued similar warnings on social media. "Doesn't matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force won't back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will," Patel wrote Saturday night on X. Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this article source: DOJ identifies suspect accused of assaulting federal officer, as Trump vows tough response
Sky News AU
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
FBI identifies masked suspect after $50,000 reward offered as US Attorney General Pam Bondi vows to prosecute LA rioters
A masked man who allegedly assaulted federal officers in Los Angeles has been identified as US Attorney General Pam Bondi warns protesters the federal government will come after them if they break the law. The FBI put out a public alert on Monday in order to track down a masked man accused of throwing broken cinder blocks at police. Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, the Attorney General said the man had now been identified and would be put on the FBI's most wanted list. 'The case where the guy was breaking up the cinder blocks and he was throwing them at police cars… (and) the federal officer had injured his hand," the Attorney General said. 'He was wearing a mask. The FBI has identified him .... they are doing a search warrant on his house as we speak. "His name is Reyes. He is going to be on the most wanted list.' In its appeal for public information, published on X, the FBI offered a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual. 'The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office is seeking the public's assistance in identifying the individual responsible for assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property near Alondra Boulevard in the city of Paramount, California,' the FBI poster states. 'On June 7, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the suspect threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in Paramount, California, injuring a federal officer and damaging government vehicles." In a subsequent post, FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis said there would be 'no tolerance' to any interference with the activities of law enforcement. 'Anyone who deliberately impedes the efforts of law enforcement agents and officers who are carrying out lawful warrants will be subject to federal prosecution, to include spending time in federal prison,' the head of the FBI's LA field office said. Ms Bondi doubled down on this message on Tuesday, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity the federal government would prosecutive rioters if California would not. 'If California won't protect their law enforcement, we will protect the LAPD and the sheriff's office out there,' she said. 'We can prosecute federally people who assault state law enforcement officers with a maximum of five years in prison, and we are going to do it. 'Not only that, we have nine open cases right now and more to come on assaulting federal officers. The Molotov cocktail cases that you've seen, we've charged one. More to come.' The Attorney General said the US government would also go after lesser crimes. 'The looters; you saw they began to loot last night, going into 7-Elevens, going into drugstores. Typically, you don't charge those. We do under federal law now,' she said 'Under the Hobbs Act, we are charging robbery. You loot a business in California, you are looking at a maximum of 20 years in prison. 'If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, we are going to charge you with a crime federally. You are looking at up to five years maximum in prison. 'If you assault a police officer, if you rob a store, if you loot, if you spit on a police officer. We are coming after you… we are going to prosecute you.' Ms Bondi added that the masks many protesters were wearing would not be enough to conceal their identities. 'The mask won't protect you. Technology is amazing right now. We are tracking you. We will find and you will go to jail and we'll prosecute you federally,' she said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Local casino winners targeted in over a dozen highway robberies, DOJ says
The Brief Two South Gate men have been federally charged for allegedly committing over a dozen armed robberies targeting casino winners. The suspects, Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 22, and Dereck Nathan Lopez, 21, would scout victims in casinos before ambushing their vehicles on the highway. If convicted, both defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. LOS ANGELES - Two men from South Gate have been federally indicted for allegedly carrying out over a dozen armed robberies, targeting individuals who had won money at local casinos, according to federal prosecutors. What we know Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 22, and Dereck Nathan Lopez, 21, have been charged in a federal indictment unsealed on May 9. They are accused of committing more than a dozen armed robberies by stealing gambling winnings from individuals leaving local casinos. SUGGESTED: Feds launch program in California to counteract state's sanctuary policies Both defendants face multiple charges, including interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), Hobbs Act conspiracy, and multiple counts of using firearms during a crime of violence. Lopez is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The backstory According to the 10-count indictment, Lopez and Gonzalez, along with other co-conspirators, would enter local casinos using false names. Their objective was to identify gamblers who appeared to be winning or cashing in large amounts of chips. After scouting their targets, they would follow the victims' vehicles from the casino, the indictment alleged. SUGGESTED: Ex-OC cop caught drinking, dancing at Stagecoach while claiming disability charged with fraud Once on the highway, they would ambush the vehicles, brandish firearms, smash the windows, demand money or chips, and then flee. This method was allegedly used to rob or attempt to rob individuals leaving casinos on at least 15 different occasions, with three incidents occurring on a single night, federal prosecutors said. In one instance, casino surveillance video reportedly shows Lopez celebrating a gambling victory with a victim he was scouting, even high-fiving her after she won, according to the indictment. Within an hour of that encounter, Lopez's co-conspirators allegedly blocked in her vehicle, brandished firearms, and stole $21,000 in cash. In another separate incident, Lopez, Gonzalez, and their co-conspirators are accused of stealing at least $130,000 in casino winnings, officials said. Lopez also faces a charge of being a felon in possession of three firearms and over 30 rounds of ammunition, which were discovered at his home in December 2023. SUGGESTED: Ex OC city councilmember lied about her residency while on council, running for mayor: DA He is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a grand theft conviction in San Bernardino Superior Court in November 2023, which occurred while the indicted robbery spree was ongoing. Big picture view This case falls under "Operation Safe Cities," an initiative that prioritizes prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. This strategic enforcement approach aims to increase arrests, prosecutions, and convictions of repeat offenders engaged in dangerous conduct. It is designed to enhance public safety by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, and robbery crews that cause significant disruption and losses. SUGGESTED: California serial killer may be linked to 45-year-old Oregon cold case What's next If convicted of all charges, each defendant could face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The Source Information for this story is from a press release published by the U.S Attorney's Office, Central District of California, on May 9, 2025.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
2nd defendant convicted in 2023 central Florida convenience store robbery spree
The United States Department of Justice announced that the remaining defendant in a robbery spree has been convicted. A federal jury found Nijah Jahni Mitchell,23, of Orlando, guilty of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Mitchell's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26. He faces 28 years to life in federal prison. Prosecutors say Mitchell and his co-defendant, Dany Telfort, committed a string of nine armed robberies at convenience stores throughout central Florida between March 23 and April 1, 2023. These robberies happened over three sprees on three separate evenings. According to the Justice Department, Mitchell was caught after the third spree, while Telfort got away. Telfort was later arrested. Both were indicted in April 2024. Telfort previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
