SELF-PROCLAIMED MEMBER OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT CHARGED WITH DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE

SAN DIEGO, CA-United States Attorney Carol C. Lam announced today the unsealing of a one-count indictment charging Rodney Adam Coronado, a self-proclaimed member of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), with the felony charge of demonstrating the use of a destructive device. Coronado was arrested earlier today in Tucson, Arizona, by agents of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

According to the indictment, on August 1, 2003, at a public gathering in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego, Coronado taught and demonstrated the making and use of a destructive device, with the intent that the device be used to commit arson. Hours earlier, a fire had destroyed a large apartment complex under construction in the University Towne Center area of San Diego.

United States Attorney Lam stated, "Teaching people how to build explosives in order to commit violent crimes is unacceptable in civilized society. There is no excuse for it."

Daniel R. Dzwilewski, Special Agent in Charge, San Diego Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, commented, "America will not tolerate terrorists. Whether you were born here or abroad, we will not stand back and allow you to terrorize our communities under the guise of free speech."

John T. Torres, Division Director, Special Agent in Charge, Los Angeles Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, stated, "When organizations such as ELF/ALF engage in these senseless acts of violence, it threatens us all. ATF will continue to aggressively pursue these types of cases and bring this type of criminal activity to a halt."

Coronado is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment before a United States Magistrate Judge in Tucson , Arizona .