Robert Paul Rundo, a former Huntington Beach resident with ties to a white supremacy group, pleaded guilty to charges related to instigating and participating in violence at several political rallies across California. The 34-year-old was convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Riot Act—a clear sign that authorities are taking a strong stand against hate-fueled activities.
In a statement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, Martin Estrada, United States Attorney, condemned the defendant's actions: "T20s." The consequences of Rundo's actions have been to starkly highlight the ongoing battle against extremism and the efforts to uphold civil liberties.
Rundo's guilty plea reveals his involvement with the "Rise Above Movement" (RAM), an organization that rebranded itself as part of a new white supremacy and nationalist movement. Investigations detailed how Rundo and associates prepared for confrontations through rigorous training sessions, social media coordination, and boastful online postings that glorified the violence they enacted. Statements such as "#rightwingdeathsquad" accompanied images of their brutish deeds, perpetuating a menacing persona online.
Their plotted confrontations led to several violent clashes, most notably during political rallies in Huntington Beach and Berkeley where Rundo and his gang targeted protesters with physical aggression. Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, told reporters, "Mr. Rundo’s cowardly and unprovoked acts of violence were unjustly carried out upon his victims, leaving those who were victimized, their families, and our community torn by hate," as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. With such actions now having been brought to light, Rundo's future will be decidedly dictated by the justice system.
United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton has scheduled a December 13 sentencing hearing where Rundo could face up to five years in federal prison. The case, however, extends beyond Rundo alone. Robert Boman and Tyler Laube, two additional defendants, have also been charged, with Laube already having pled guilty to one count of interfering with a federally protected right, resulting in a $2,000 fine and a sentence to time served.
