December 6, 08

NEWS / Two Plead Guilty to Bombing U.S. Courthouse in San Diego

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Ella Louise Sanders pled 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). As part of her guilty plea, Sanders admitted that she conspired with others to construct and detonate a series of pipe bombs, including the bombs used against the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse in San Diego on May 4, 2008, and a Federal Express distribution center in San Diego on April 25, 2008.

In her plea, Sanders admitted that she purchased explosive material and stole pipes for the purpose
of constructing pipe bombs. Sanders admitted that she and a co-conspirator constructed two pipe bombs, which were then used against the Federal Express distribution center on 47th Street in San Diego on April 25, 2008. Sanders also admitted that, on May 3, 2008, she helped the co-conspirator construct three more pipe bombs. The next day, Sanders helped the co-conspirator conceal her identity shortly before the coconspirator detonated three pipe bombs at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse.

On September 25, 2008, Eric Robinson pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis to the same conspiracy charge as Sanders. Robinson’s guilty plea was entered subject to final acceptance by Judge McKeown. Today, Judge McKeown formally accepted Robinson’s guilty plea. Robinson is scheduled to appear before Judge McKeown in federal court in San Diego for sentencing on June 15, 2009 and Sanders is scheduled for sentencing on August 3, 2009, both at 9:30 a.m.

DEFENDANTS
Criminal Case No. 08-CR-1895-MMM
Ella Louise Sanders
Eric Reginald Robinson

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c) - Possession of a Destructive Device in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Maximum penalties: Not less than 30 years in prison

AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Joint Terrorism Task Force
http://sandiego.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/sd_120508.htm