[Ppnews] Grand Jury and arrest in Sacramento arsons

[PPnews at freedomarchives.org]

Updates and Information on Ryan Lewis’s Case and How To Support Him

A Federal Grand Jury has been convened to invesitgate case and area 
anarchists. Please support Ryan and other Sacramento area anarchists.

On Tuesday February 8 the FBI arrested Newcastle resident Ryan Daniel Lewis 
in connection with a recent ELF action. Lewis is being charged with arson 
and attempted arson of a commercial building.

Since the end of December three ELF actions have occurred in the Sacramento 
area. Two attempted arsons at developments in Auburn and Lincoln were 
claimed by an ELF communiqué sent to the Auburn Journal and the Sacramento 
Bee. A third successful arson at an apartment complex in Sutter Creek was 
discovered with graffiti that said “WE WILL WIN-ELF”.

Lewis is charged only with the attempted arson in Auburn and the FBI 
continues to investigate all three incidences. Lewis was arraigned Thursday 
and appointed a federal public defender. The FBI has yet to reveal what 
evidence, if any, it has against Lewis. The criminal complaint against him 
and the search warrant were sealed in US District court in Sacramento.

Lewis’s case is being prosecuted by US Attorney McGregor Scott. Scott, who 
once commanded an infantry unit on the streets of LA during the 1992 riots, 
has made a name for himself as District Attorney of Shasta County and a 
member of the board of directors of the California District Attorneys 
Association. Scott made news last May when he testified before the Senate 
Judiciary Committee asking them to expand the scope of 18 U.S.C. Section 43 
(covers “animal enterprise terrorism”) to ban the legal activities of 
groups like Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty.

The FBI investigation into the ELF actions is ongoing. The US Attorney has 
also convened a grand jury to investigate the recent ELF actions. They have 
begun visiting area anarchists, suponeaing witnesses, and will hear 
testimony on February 24th. (Whether or not this is the first day, we are 
unsure). These procedings are not open to the public.

Lewis is currently being held without bail in the Sacramento County Main 
Jail. He is reportedly being treated well and is in good spirits. He has a 
bail hearing on Thursday February 17 at 2pm at the Federal Court House in 
Sacramento at 501 I Street (on the 8th floor). At this hearing it will be 
determined whether or not he must remained incarcerated until his trial.

You can support Ryan Lewis by attending this hearing.

In the case that he is not released on bail tomorrow, please send letters 
of support to:

Lewis, Ryan X-4101338 5E225B

Sacramento County Main Jail

651 "I" Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

USA

If you are from the Sacramento area and have been visited by the FBI about 
this, please get in contact. You are not alone and there are resources 
available to help you and people willing to support you. ALSO! If you are 
visited by the FBI it is important to not talk to them! Their job is to 
investigate. They are trying to put you or your friends behind bars. You 
legally do not have to speak with them or answer their questions. Simply 
state that you wish to speak with your attorney (even if you don’t have 
one) or that you will have your attorney contact them. Take down their 
names and the names of their superiors and any other information you can. 
For more advice on dealing with the FBI, please read “If an Agent Knocks” 
which is available online on countless websites, including:

http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ ALFront/ELF/IfanAgentKnocks.pdf

For more information on Grand Jouries, please read the infoshop.org guide 
to grand jury investigations at:

http://www.infoshop.org/breakingglasspress/GrandJuries.PDF

The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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