Suspects plead not guilty in Southern California bombing plot

Three suspects in alleged Southern California bombing plot enter not guilty pleas in federal court, with the fourth suspect’s arraignment scheduled for later this month.

Three of four individuals accused of plotting to bomb multiple Southern California business facilities on New Year’s Eve have pleaded not guilty to terrorism and weapons charges in federal court.

Audrey Carroll, 30, and Zachary Page, 32, entered their pleas Monday, while Tina Lai, 41, was arraigned days earlier. The fourth suspect, Dante Anthony-Gaffield, 24, is scheduled to enter his plea on January 20. Attorneys representing the defendants have not responded to requests for comment.

The suspects, all Los Angeles area residents, were apprehended on December 12 in the Mojave Desert east of Los Angeles during what authorities described as a rehearsal of their plot. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the arrests were made before the suspects could assemble a functional explosive device.

According to prosecutors, Carroll had developed a detailed plan targeting at least five business locations owned by two companies across Southern California, characterized as “Amazon-type” logistics centers. The specific targets have not been publicly identified.

A federal grand jury indicted all four suspects on multiple counts of providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, along with possession of unregistered firearms. Carroll and Page face an additional charge of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Authorities say the suspects are members of an offshoot of an anti-capitalist, anti-government group called the Turtle Island Liberation Front, which advocates for decolonization, tribal sovereignty, and encourages the working class to “rise up and fight back against capitalism.” Court documents reveal they belonged to what one defendant described as a “radical” faction communicating through a chat called “Order of the Black Lotus.”

The term “Turtle Island” has cultural significance among some Indigenous peoples who use it to describe North America outside the colonial boundaries established by the United States and Canada. The name derives from Indigenous creation stories depicting the continent forming on a giant turtle’s back.

Evidence presented by prosecutors suggests the group’s ambitions extended beyond the New Year’s Eve plot. According to the criminal complaint, two members had discussed plans for future attacks targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and vehicles using pipe bombs.

Court documents include photographs of the desert campsite where the arrests took place, showing what investigators identified as bomb-making materials arranged on plastic folding tables.

The arrests highlight growing concerns about domestic extremism and potential terrorist threats from ideologically motivated groups operating within the United States. Federal authorities have increasingly focused resources on identifying and disrupting plots before they can be executed, particularly around high-profile dates like New Year’s Eve when public gatherings are common.

A trial for Carroll, Page, and Lai is scheduled to begin on February 17, while Anthony-Gaffield’s trial date will be set following his arraignment. If convicted, Carroll and Page could face maximum sentences of life in federal prison, while Anthony-Gaffield and Lai could each receive up to 25 years.

The case is being prosecuted in federal court, reflecting the serious nature of the charges and the alleged interstate components of the planned attacks. Federal terrorism charges typically carry significantly heavier penalties than similar state-level offenses.

Authorities continue to investigate whether the group had connections to other extremist organizations or if additional plots were being developed. The investigation remains active as prosecutors prepare for the upcoming trials.