FBI Makes Arrest for ELF action

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 US Attorney has also convened a grand jury to investigate the recent ELF actions. They have begun suponeaing witnesses and will hear testimony on February 24th. 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 Monday February 14 at 2pm at the Federal Court House in Sacramento at 501 I Street. 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.






Auburn Journal http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2005/02/13/news/top_stories/03lewis.txt
KCRA http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/4191390/detail.html
Sacramento Bee http://www.sacbee.com/content/community_news/placer/story/12303336p-13167209c.html