(CN) — Two men in California are accused of planning to attack targets associated with Democrats, including the John. L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, California, an indictment unsealed in federal court Thursday revealed.
Ian Benjamin Rogers, from Napa, California, and Jarrod Copeland, of Vallejo, California, intended to use incendiary devices and began plotting their attacks after the 2020 presidential election, according to the indictment that charges them with conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used in or affecting interstate commerce.
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.
Rogers was arrested on Jan. 15 after police searched his home and business and found dozens of firearms, three fully-automatic weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs. Copeland was arrested Wednesday.
The two men hoped their attacks would start a “movement” and they contacted an anti-government militia group in an attempt to gain support for their plans, according to the indictment, which details messages the defendants sent to each other.
“I want to blow up a democrat building bad,” Rogers reportedly messaged Copeland on Jan. 11. “I’m thinking sac office first target.”
“I agree,” Copeland said, adding, “Plan attack.”
“Let’s see what happens after the 20th we go to war,” Rogers said, referring to Inauguration Day.
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.
“Firebombing your perceived political opponents is illegal and does not nurture the sort of open and vigorous debate that created and supports our constitutional democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds in a statement. “The allegations in the indictment describe despicable conduct. Investigation and prosecution of those who choose violence over discussion is as important as anything else we do to protect our free society.”
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.
The filing states the two “understood that they would be viewed as domestic terrorists.”
“The FBI’s highest priority has remained preventing terrorist attacks before they occur, including homegrown plots from domestic violent extremists,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair in a statement. “As described in the indictment, Ian Rogers and Jarrod Copeland planned an attack using incendiary devices. The FBI and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office have worked hand-in-hand to uncover this conspiracy and to prevent any loss of life.”
According to a Department of Justice press release, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment with three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge. Rogers faces an additional 10 years for the weapons charge, and Copeland could face 20 years in prison for the destruction of evidence charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Riebli of the Northern District of California and trial attorney David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
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