A federal grand jury has indicted four individuals associated with the extremist group Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) on several terrorism-related charges. These charges stem from an alleged plot to carry out bombings across Southern California on New Year's Eve, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. The accused are facing serious federal crimes, with allegations of intending to use mass destruction weapons and providing material support to terrorists.
The defendants, identified as Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante James Anthony-Gaffield, and Tina Lai, were purportedly part of a “radical” TILF faction. They are accused of having been planning to "completely pulverize" various targets, which included technology and logistics companies. Notably, Carroll and Page are additionally charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. The group was reportedly intercepted before they could construct functioning explosive devices.
According to a detailed indictment, their plans came to light through an eight-page document written by Carroll, which described the plot and provided instructions for the manufacturing of bombs and procuring materials while advising co-conspirators on how to avoid leaving traceable evidence. They had encrypted communications and even tested explosives on December 12, 2025, in the Mojave Desert, where they were arrested by the FBI.
Messages sent between the accused via an encrypted app reveal the depth of their motivations, with one message from Page reading, "death to israel death to the usa death to colonizers death to settler-coloniasm [sic]." Carroll is reported to have responded affirmatively to this radical sentiment. The four were clearly organized and also discussed post-bombing plans which included attacks against ICE agents and vehicles. If convicted, Carroll and Page stand to potentially face life sentences, while Gaffield and Lai could face up to 25 years in federal prison.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Los Angeles Police Department, and several other local and federal organizations. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello, Amanda B. Elbogen, and Daniel H. Weiner are prosecuting the case with assistance from Justice Department Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman. As indictments merely allege crimes, it was reiterated by authorities that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Further details on the indictment and upcoming arraignments can be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office website.
