September 23, 09

NEWS / Third Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction in San Diego Federal

SAN DIEGO—U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Karen P. Hewitt announced that Rachelle Lynette Carlock pleaded guilty today in federal court in San Diego before the Honorable Margaret M.. McKeown to one count of possession and use of a destructive device to commit a crime of violence, to wit: conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), arising from the bombing of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse in San Diego on May 4, 2008, and other acts.

As part of her guilty plea, Carlock admitted that she conspired with others to construct a series of pipe bombs, including the bombs used against the Schwartz Federal Courthouse. In her plea, Carlock admitted that she purchased explosive material and stole pipes for the purpose of constructing pipe bombs. She also admitted that, on May 4, 2008, she personally planted and detonated three pipe bombs at the Schwartz Federal Courthouse.

U.S. Attorney Hewitt said, “The bombs detonated at the federal courthouse in San Diego posed a serious threat not only to people and property at the courthouse, but to citizens passing by. This prosecution serves as a reminder that the law imposes very stern penalties for the unlawful use of bombs, explosives or other destructive devices.” U.S. Attorney Hewitt praised the coordinated effort of the numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that participated in the Joint Terrorism Task Force’s investigation of this case.

Co-defendants Ella Louise Sanders and Eric Reginald Robinson previously entered guilty pleas to one count of possession and use of a destructive device to commit a crime of violence, to wit: conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Robinson is scheduled to appear before Judge McKeown in federal court in San Diego for sentencing on Feb. 16, 2010; Sanders is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 23, 2009, both at 9:30 a.m. Carlock is scheduled for sentencing on March 29, 2010.

http://sandiego.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/sd092209.htm