Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced that the Justice Department is bringing “severe” charges against three individuals accused of targeting Teslas with arson attacks, following the White House’s vow to treat such incidents as domestic terrorism.
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” she wrote in a statement. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
The Justice Department announced charges against three individuals.
One person allegedly threw eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon, while armed with a suppressed AR-15 rifle.
Another allegedly attempted to use Molotov cocktails to light Teslas on fire in Loveland, Colorado, and was later found with materials that could be used to make incendiary weapons.
The final instance involved an individual who allegedly “wrote profane messages against President Trump” and lit Tesla charging stations on fire in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Justice Department didn’t immediately specify the identities of the individuals involved or the charges against them, but said each person could face up to 20 years in prison.
The Independent has contacted the department for comment.
The events described by the Justice Department match some details of previously reported incidents.
Earlier this month, Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested for allegedly targeting a Salem dealership twice with attacks, using both Molotov cocktails and a suppressed AR-15-style rifle. He was charged in federal court with illegally possessing an unregistered device, WBOY reports.
Two individuals — Cooper Jo Frederick, 24, and Lucy Grace Nelson, 42 — were arrested in Loveland, Colorado, in recent weeks and hit with federal charges for allegedly targeting a Tesla dealership, NBC 15 reports.
Frederick allegedly threw rocks as well an incendiary device it into the dealership near parked cars, starting a fire that was quickly extinguished. He’s reportedly charged with the use of incendiary devices in a felony, possession of such devices, second-degree arson, and criminal mischief.
Nelson, meanwhile, is accused of spray-painting the word “Nazi” on the dealership’s front windows, and was allegedly found by police to have a car with gasoline and Molotov cocktail materials inside. Nelson is reportedly charged with malicious destruction of property and was released on bond.
In South Carolina, meanwhile, Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, was reportedly arrested last week and is facing federal arson charges for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla charging station in North Charleston.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
