SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — One of four militia group members tied to the antigovernment, pro-gun “Boogaloo” movement pleaded guilty Monday to destroying evidence to obstruct an investigation into the fatal shooting of an officer at an Oakland courthouse in May 2020.
Robert Jesus Blancas, a 34-year-old from Castro Valley, entered his plea during a virtual hearing before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. Blancas donned a red jumpsuit as he appeared via video link from Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County.
By pleading guilty, Blancas admitted to conspiring to destroy records of group chats and messages with members of the “Grizzly Scouts” militia. Blancas held the rank of first lieutenant in the group, for which he handled security and intelligence.
Another member of the militia, according to prosecutors, is Air Force Sgt. Steven Carrillo, who reportedly held the rank of “Staff Sergeant” and went by the nickname “Armadillo.” Carillo was charged with shooting and killing officer David Underwood and wounding his partner during a racial justice protest in Oakland on May 29, 2020. Underwood, a Federal Protective Services officer for the Department of Homeland Security, was standing watch with another guard outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.
Carrillo was arrested on June 6, 2020, in Ben Lomond after ambushing deputies from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office and killing Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller.
According to an indictment unsealed in April, Blancas connected with his three codefendants — Jessie Alexander Rush, Simon Ybarra and Kenny Miksch — on a Facebook group called "K/alifornia Kommando.” Prosecutors say the men met in person for firearms training and discussed committing acts of violence against law enforcement on WhatsApp and other messaging platforms.
Prosecutors say the men repeatedly referenced “boog” and discussed tactics for killing police officers. “Boog” refers to the Boogaloo, an antigovernment movement promoting violent civil war through militias.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Cheng read a description of facts underlying the charges against Blancas in court Monday. He said Blancas learned of Carillo’s role in the May 2020 shooting in Oakland when Carillo wrote in one of their group chats, “Dudes I offed a fed.”
Cheng said Blancas conspired with other members of the group to destroy their communications with Carillo. Blancas admitted to wiping records of the group’s conversations from his cellphone. He also admitted deleting 20 files from his Dropbox account that contained information on the group’s rank structure, nondisclosure agreements, descriptions of Grizzly Scouts uniforms and other documents.
“Defendant became a member of the conspiracy knowing one of the objectives was to obstruct justice,” Cheng said.
Blancas pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one count of obstructing justice.
The defendant also admitted to a separate charge of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. According to prosecutors, Blancas met a 15-year-old girl through the social media app Whisper in around April 2020 and convinced her to send him pornographic photos and videos of herself.
“Defendant knew victim 1 was a minor when he told her to produce pornographic videos of herself and send them to him,” Cheng said in court. “These constituted production of child pornography.”
Blancas faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for enticing a minor and up to 20 years in prison for each obstruction of justice charge. Blancas told the judge he understood that by pleading guilty he could be sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6 in San Francisco.
Neither the U.S. Attorney’s Office nor Blancas’ lawyer could confirm if Blancas agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for recommendations that he receive a lighter sentence. Those terms are often included in plea agreements for cases involving multiple defendants or ongoing investigations.
Blancas’ attorney, Alan Dressler, did not return an email and phone call requesting comment Monday.
Blancas’ codefendant Kenny Misch is scheduled to appear in court for a change of plea hearing on Sept. 8. His other codefendants — Rush and Ybarra — are expected to enter new pleas in the case on Sept. 13.
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