2 charged with plotting to blow up Democratic headquarters
Source: AP
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Two California men have been charged with plotting to blow up the Democratic Party’s headquarters in the state capital, a bombing they hoped would be the first in a series of politically-motivated attacks, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
The pair used multiple messaging apps to plan to attack targets they associated with Democrats after the November 2020 presidential election, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. Their first intended target was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, prosecutors said.
“According to the indictment, the defendants planned to use incendiary devices to attack their targets and hoped their attacks would prompt a movement,” the statement said.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, 45, and Jarrod Copeland, 37, each face multiple charges including conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used or in affecting interstate commerce, prosecutors said.
Read more: https://napavalleyregister.com/news/national/2-charged-with-plotting-to-blow-up-democratic-headquarters/article_29d98912-c1a1-5fe7-a40d-92323eca1d5d.html
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BY CONAN ALTATIS ON JANUARY 28, 2021
Ian Benjamin Rogers (©Napa County Sheriff’s Office)
Ian Benjamin Rogers is a white man from California, United States. Here are 13 more things about him:
- He lives in Napa County, San Pablo Bay, California. (a)
- He owns British Auto Repair of the Napa Valley, an auto repair shop in Napa County. (b)
- He is a gun collector. (b)
- He has an active passport and is married to a Ukrainian citizen. (b)
- He once attended a barbecue hosted by the Three Percenters but is not a member of the anti-government group. (c)
- On January 10, 2021, he sent a text message to someone saying, “We can attack Twitter or the democrats you pick.”
- On January 11, 2021, he sent another text message to the same person saying, “I want to blow up a democrat building bad.” (a)
More:
https://conandaily.com/2021/01/28/ian-rogers-biography-13-things-about-gun-collector-from-napa-county-california/
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Arrest of Napa businessman on weapons charges reveals political beliefs
By Debora Villalon
Published January 19 Napa KTVU FOX 2
. . .
The Sheriff's Department says it was acting on a tip that Rogers had a cache of firearms.
What they found: more than 50 firearms and some 15,000 rounds of ammunition, plus gun powder and five pipe bombs, at Roger's home and business.
"I was scared when the bomb squad started lighting off explosives and stuff out there," said Alan Partanen, who works at Napa Auto Parts, and was alarmed by Roger's cache of firepower. "I had no idea, no, he was just always a professional, and we sent parts over to him when he needed them."
Roger's booking photo shows his brown hair dyed bright blonde.
On social media, a few photos show him with friends and sportscars.
In one, he poses in a driver's seat, a prominent German military insignia tattooed on his arm, a symbol regarded as pro-Nazi.
After his arrest, other photos featuring guns and swords in his home were removed.
Also deleted: his sentiments supporting President Trump and opposing Democrats and selected Republicans.
"In one of his posts he said they were stabbing Trump in the back," noted Kevin Courtney, city editor at the Napa Valley Register.
More:
https://www.ktvu.com/news/arrest-of-napa-businessman-on-weapons-charges-reveals-political-beliefs
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2 California Men Charged With Planning to Firebomb Democratic Targets
The men began plotting their attacks after the 2020 presidential election, according to an indictment.
KELSEY JUKAM / July 15, 2021
Investigators discovered dozens of guns, five pipe bombs, and this "White Privilege" card while seaching the home and business of Ian Benjamin Rogers, who is indicted on several charges relating to an alleged plot to firebomb Democratic targets. (Screenshot image of the criminal complaint against Rogers via Courthouse News)
. . .
Copeland faces an additional charge of destruction of records in official proceedings, and Rogers is also charged with possession of unregistered destructive devices and possession of machine guns, and separately faces several felony counts in state court for possessing bombs and illegal guns. He is currently in state custody in Napa County.
. . .
After Rogers’ arrest, Copeland reportedly contacted a militia group the two belonged to and one of its leaders told him to switch messaging platforms and delete everything he had. When law enforcement searched Copeland’s phones, his messages with Rogers — which were in Rogers’ phone — were missing, according to the indictment.
. . .
In a Jan. 26 criminal complaint regarding Rogers, an FBI agent said that, in addition to the weapons found during the search of Rogers’ properties, law enforcement found the U.S. Army Special Forces Guide to Unconventional Warfare and a U.S. Army Guerilla Warfare Handbook, and a "White Privilege Card." The agent said there was also a sticker found on Rogers' car that is used by anti-government, pro-gun “Three-Percenters,” who refer to themselves as such based on their belief that only 3% of American colonists fought during the American Revolution.
In a court document seeking to keep Copeland in custody pending trial, Hinds said: “He is an extremist who abuses steroids and fantasizes about violence. The danger he poses to anyone with opposing political views is obvious.”
The same court filing details a text message conversation between Copeland and Rogers in which Rogers initially suggests they “hit” the governor’s mansion first, although he later changed the plan to first target the Democratic Headquarters.
More:
https://www.courthousenews.com/2-california-men-charged-with-planning-to-firebomb-democratic-targets/
