Eco-Terrorism: Oakland Woman Sentenced for Role in 2001 Arson at UW Center for Urban Horticulture

Former Evergreen Student Secured Car, Served as Lookout in Firebomb Conspiracy

More than 11 years after a devastating arson, Briana Waters, 36, now of Oakland, California, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for conspiracy, arson, possession of an unregistered destructive device, and using a destructive device during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. Waters was sentenced to 48 months, meaning she will return to prison for 11 months because of the approximately 37 months she has already served. One year ago, Waters abandoned her claims of innocence and admitted the firebomb devices used to destroy the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture were built at her Olympia residence and that she helped transport them and served as a lookout during the May 2001 blaze. At today’s sentencing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton told Waters, “You have had a corrosive effect on the respect for the law.” Judge Leighton said Waters’ perjured testimony and lies about federal agents at her 2008 trial was a serious crime. “Our courts are sanctuaries; we protect the pursuit of truth,” Judge Leighton said.

“Today’s sentencing closes a chapter on one of the most dangerous and damaging acts of domestic terrorism in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “The $6 million Ms. Waters and the rest of these defendants owe in restitution will never truly compensate the researchers who lost their life’s work, their sense of security, and the endangered plants they were trying to propagate. We are fortunate no lives were lost in the fire. I commend the work of the first responders who controlled the fire and the dedicated agents and officers that tracked down these conspirators to hold them accountable.”

In 2008, a jury found Waters guilty of arson. However, Waters’ conviction was overturned after an appeals court held that a folder of documents containing anarchist materials was improperly admitted into evidence at her trial. During her trial, prosecutors showed how rental car, telephone, and bank records corroborated the testimony of two cooperating witnesses who put Waters at the scene, acting as the lookout the night of May 21, 2001, when arson destroyed the Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle.

In their sentencing recommendation, prosecutors noted that Waters continued to obstruct the justice system through the lies she told at her trial. “Waters’ obstruction of justice and perjury were not only fresh crimes committed by Waters in 2007, they came at great cost to our system of justice. By falsely claiming to be innocent and by making what she knows to be groundless claims of misconduct, Waters fueled perceptions of injustice....The government does not believe that it is a coincidence that a major ELF arson—in fact, the largest ELF arson in the state of Washington since the Center for Urban Horticulture arson—took place in Snohomish County, Washington, while the jury was deliberating in Waters’ case. By falsely protesting her innocence and by constantly claiming government and judicial misconduct, Waters fueled an environment in which such crimes continue to occur,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

The UW fire bombing was part of a string of 17 arsons across the west by the radical groups the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). The arson spree caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. In all, 15 people have been convicted of crimes related to a string of fires across the western United States investigated under Operation Backfire. All those connected with the UW arson have been ordered to share in restitution to the University of Washington and the state of Washington totaling $6,092,649.

Three other defendants, Jennifer Kolar, of Seattle, Washington; Lacey Phillabaum, of Spokane, Washington; and Justin Solondz have each pleaded guilty and been sentenced for the arson. Solondz was sentenced in March to seven years in prison, and Kolar was sentenced to five years in prison for the UW Center for Urban Horticulture fire and other arsons. Phillabaum was sentenced to three years in prison.

In addition to the defendants who have been convicted, the leader of the arson cell and the fifth participant in the UW Center for Urban Horticulture arson, William C. Rodgers, 40, of Prescott, Arizona, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Seattle in connection with the case. However, Rodgers committed suicide in December 2005, while being held in the Coconino County Jail in Prescott, Arizona.

This case is the result of a 10-year investigation by law enforcement. The Seattle Fire Department battled the blaze. Participating in the extensive investigation were the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Eugene Police Department; the Oregon State Police; the University of Washington Police Department; and other state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Friedman and Thomas Woods.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.

Final Defendant in UW Horticulture Center Arson Pleads Guilty

Student who Built Fire Bomb, Drove Getaway Car Faces Seven-Year Sentence

 

The final participant in the 2001 arson of the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. JUSTIN SOLONDZ, 32, entered a guilty plea this morning to conspiracy and arson. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both the prosecutors and the defense will recommend a seven-year prison term. Judge Ronald B. Leighton can impose any sentence allowed by law. Judge Leighton scheduled sentencing for March 16, 2012.

 

“This was a dangerous and cowardly crime. This defendant and his group damaged the environment far more than their activism ever protected it,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “Not only did the UW blaze destroy endangered plants and important research, it posed a very real danger to the firefighters dedicated to fighting it. I commend the agents who tracked Mr. Solondz and brought him to justice.”

 

According to the plea agreement, SOLONDZ built the firebombs in a “clean room” behind an Olympia residence, transported them to Seattle, and remained in the car as a getaway driver during the arson. The plea agreement details how SOLONDZ left the country in 2005, and when he learned of arrests in the arson case, decided to stay abroad, traveling under a false name. In early 2009, SOLONDZ was arrested by Chinese authorities for manufacturing drugs. He was returned to the United States in July 2011, in the custody of the FBI.

 

The UW fire bombing was part of a string of 17 arsons across the west by the radical groups the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). The arson spree caused tens of millions of dollars in damage. In all, 15 people have been convicted of crimes related to a string of fires across the western United States investigated under “Operation Backfire.” All those connected with the UW arson have been ordered to share in restitution to the University of Washington and the State of Washington totaling $6,092,649.

 

Three other defendants, Jennifer Kolar, of Seattle, Washington; Lacey Phillabaum, of Spokane, Washington; and Briana Waters, of Oakland, California, have each pleaded guilty to the arson. Kolar was sentenced to a 60-month term of imprisonment for the UW Center for Urban Horticulture and other arsons. Phillabaum was sentenced to a 36-month term of imprisonment. Waters will be sentenced June 22, 2012. Under the terms of her plea agreement, both sides will recommend 48 months in prison. Waters served more than two-and-a-half years in prison following her conviction for the arson in 2008. That conviction was overturned in 2010. Waters entered a guilty plea in June 2011.

 

In addition to the defendants who have been convicted, the leader of the arson cell, and the fifth participant in the UW Center for Urban Horticulture arson, William C. Rodgers, 40, of Prescott, Arizona, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Seattle in connection with the case. However, Rodgers committed suicide in December 2005, while being held in the Coconino County Jail in Prescott, Arizona.

 

This case is the result of a 10-year investigation by law enforcement. The Seattle Fire Department battled the blaze. Participating in the extensive investigation were the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Eugene Police Department, the Oregon State Police, the University of Washington Police Department, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Friedman and Thomas Woods.

FBI San Francisco and Boston Divisions Ask for the Public’s Assistance in Finding Wanted Fugitive Daniel Andreas San Diego

BOSTON—At the request of the San Francisco Division of the FBI, the Boston Division is asking the public’s assistance in locating Daniel Andreas San Diego, a fugitive on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorist” list who may be hiding in western Massachusetts. The FBI received a tip from America’s Most Wanted that San Diego may be in the Northampton, Massachusetts area. Based upon this information, the FBI is seeking the public’s help in tracking down this fugitive. The FBI is offering a reward for up to $250,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of San Diego. The reward can be paid confidentially.

San Diego, who was the first domestic terrorism suspect added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list on April 21, 2009, is wanted for his alleged involvement in two bombings in the San Francisco, California area.

On August 28, 2003, two bombs exploded approximately one hour apart on the campus of a biotechnology corporation in Emeryville, Calif. Then, on September 26, 2003, one bomb strapped with nails exploded at a nutritional products corporation in Pleasanton, Calif.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for San Diego in October 2003. However, he disappeared before he could be taken into custody.

San Diego, who was a California resident, is described as a white male with a light complexion, 6’0” tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has several tattoos, to include: a round image of burning hillsides in the center of his chest with the words “It only takes a spark” printed in a semicircle below; burning and collapsing buildings on the sides of his abdomen and back; and a single leafless tree rising from a road in the center of his lower back. These tattoos may have been significantly altered or covered with new tattoos. Because of the unique nature of these tattoos, San Diego may be reluctant to remove his shirt, even in situations where it is the norm.

At the time of his disappearance, San Diego ate neither meat nor any food containing animal products. If he has maintained this discipline, people around him may notice that he avoids consuming or wearing anything made with animal products.  He is known to be affiliated with the group Revolutionary Cells - Animal Liberation Brigade.

Several years of living as a wanted fugitive may have forced San Diego to engage in secretive behavior, and this deception may spill over into other areas of his life: he may be vague or contradictory about his past history, routinely use prepaid cell phones or calling cards, or often change his e-mail address.

Because of his training in computer networking, San Diego may be known by those around him as someone to come to for computer-related assistance. He also is known to cook and bake vegan foods. He may be using these skills as a form of income.

Due to the sensitivity of improvised explosives, individuals engaged in the unlawful manufacture and storage of these materials pose a particular risk to themselves and the public. Accidental detonations with disastrous consequences are not uncommon among bomb makers.

San Diego should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anybody with information as to the whereabouts of San Diego is urged to call the FBI in Boston at 617-742-5533 or in San Francisco at 415-553-7400. All calls are confidential.