Three Charged in Federal Courthouse
Bombing
United States Attorney Karen
P. Hewitt announced today that a federal grand jury
sitting in San Diego yesterday handed up a Superseding Indictment
charging Rachelle Lynette Carlock, Ella Louise
Sanders, and Eric Reginald Robinson with the use of
a weapon of mass destruction and other charges, arising
from the bombing of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal
Courthouse in San Diego on May 4, 2008, and a related
bombing of a Federal Express distribution center on
47th Street in San Diego on April 25, 2008.
According to the Superseding Indictment,
from at least March 2008 to May 4, 2008, Carlock, Sanders,
and Robinson conspired to construct, test, and detonate
a series of pipe bombs, including the bombs used
against the Federal Courthouse and the Federal Express
distribution center. The Superseding Indictment
alleges that, to construct the bombs, the defendants
stole pipe materials from The Home Depot and acquired
explosive material (Hodgdon’s Triple Se7en Power)
from a gun shop in El Cajon, California.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that,
on the night of the Federal Courthouse bombing: Carlock
placed three pipe bombs in a backpack, Sanders assisted
Carlock in concealing her identity, and Robinson
then drove with Carlock from Menifee, California, to
the vicinity of the Federal Courthouse in San Diego.
Robinson waited in a vehicle while Carlock placed and
detonated the bombs at the front doors of the Federal
Courthouse. According to the Superseding Indictment,
Robinson then drove Carlock back to Menifee,
California.
On June 10, 2008, Carlock was first charged
by Indictment with eight felonies relating to her purchase
of explosive materials from the gun shop in El Cajon
on April 7 and May 1, 2008 and her attempt to purchase
additional explosive materials from the gun shop on
May 13, 2008, over a week after the Federal Courthouse
bombing. The Superseding Indictment includes these
original charges, but, as mentioned, adds numerous
charges against each defendant.
Federal agents arrested Robinson yesterday.
It is anticipated that Robinson will be arraigned today
before United States Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis
in El Centro, California. It is anticipated that, when
Robinson is arraigned, Judge Lewis will schedule a
date for Robinson’s next court appearance.
Sanders is currently in state prison
in Central California, serving an unrelated state sentence.
It is
anticipated that she will be transported to San Diego
for arraignment on the Superseding Indictment on a
future date. Carlock is currently in federal custody
in San Diego. It is anticipated that she also will
be
appearing for arraignment on the Superseding Indictment
before the Honorable Margaret M. McKeown in
federal court in San Diego on a future date, which
has not yet been set by the Court.
United States Attorney Hewitt said, “These
arrests and prosecution reflect the unwavering
commitment of all in federal law enforcement to protect
the health and safety of all the citizens of San Diego
and Imperial Counties. This 17-count indictment was
returned against the defendants only three months after
the bombing of the federal courthouse in San Diego.
We are all safer today because of the outstanding and
painstaking investigative work of the agents of FBI
and ATF on this case.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter
commented, “These were egregious and dangerous
acts. The device that detonated in front of the courthouse
could have inflicted serious harm to anyone in the
vicinity of the blast. Thankfully, no one was injured;
but, make no mistake, the indictment sends a clear
message: anyone who attempts to harm, or even threaten,
the citizens of this community will be investigated
and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All
levels of law enforcement will pull together to find
those
responsible, bring them to justice, and ensure that
the American people continue to live in safety.”
DEFENDANTS Criminal Case No. 08-CR-1895-MMM
Rachelle Lynette Carlock Age: 31 San Diego, CA
Ella Louise Sanders Age: 59 San Diego, CA
Eric Reginald Robinson Age: 43 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 (All defendants)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a - Conspiracy
to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction;
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Count 2 (All defendants)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a - Use of
a Weapon of Mass Destruction;
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Count 3 (All defendants)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 - Conspiracy
to Maliciously Damage Buildings, to Possess
Firearms, and to Make Firearms; Maximum penalty: 5
years in prison
Count 4 (All defendants)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(f)(1) - Malicious
Damage to Buildings and Real Property by Means
of an Explosive; Maximum penalty: Not less than 5 years,
and not more than 20 years, in prison
Counts 5-6 (All defendants)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c) - Possession
of a Destructive Device in Relation to a Crime of
Violence; Maximum penalties: Not less than 30 years
in prison
Counts 7-8 (All defendants)
Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(h)(1) - Use
of Explosive to Commit a Felony;
Maximum penalty: 10 years in prison
Count 9 (Ella Louise Sanders)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(I) and 844(a)
- Felon in Possession of Explosive Materials;
Maximum penalty: 10 years in prison
Counts 10, 13 and 16 (Rachelle Lynette Carlock)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(a)(2) and
844(a) - Use of False Identification to Obtain Explosive
Materials; Maximum penalties: 10 years in prison
Counts 11 and 14 (Rachelle Lynette Carlock)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(I) and 844(a)
- Felon in Possession of Explosive Materials;
Maximum penalty: 10 years in prison
Counts 12, 15 and 17 (Rachelle Lynette Carlock)
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1028(a)(7) and
(b)(2)(B) - Fraud in Connection with Identification
Documents; Maximum penalties: 5 years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Joint Terrorism Task Force
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants
committed the crimes charged. The defendants
are presumed innocent until the Government meets its
burden in court of proving guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.
