33:
329:
Zacher and Block each pleaded to one count of conspiracy, attempted arson, and two separate incidents of arson. McGowan pleaded to conspiracy and to two separate incidents of arson. The government recommended that they be sentenced to 8 years in prison. Paul pleaded to one count of arson and one
254:
held a press conference announcing a 65-count indictment against 11 individuals relating to 17 different incidents in Oregon, Washington, and
California. In addition to the six arrested on December 7, the Oregon indictment also named Jonathan Paul, Suzanne Savoie, Joseph Dibee, Rebecca
333:
Prosecutors asked the court to apply a "terrorism enhancement" at sentencing. The defendants could have faced up to 20 years in prison in addition to the terms of the plea agreement. The government was seeking the enhancement because, despite the fact that the crimes involved only the
358:
On
October 19, 2010, McGowan's request for a transfer from the CMU to general population was granted. However – for reasons never explained to McGowan, his family, supporters, or lawyers – four months later he was transferred to another Communications Management Unit, this time in
459:
467:
258:
The Oregon indictment charged certain defendants with arson, attempted arson, and using and carrying a destructive device. The destructive device charge carried a 30-year mandatory sentence and a life sentence for a second conviction.
1477:
1308:
239:
arrested six people. Chelsea
Gerlach, William Rodgers, Kendall Tankersley, Kevin Tubbs, McGowan, and Stanislas Meyerhoff were arrested for allegedly taking part in a wide variety of crimes, including arson and domestic
346:
presided over the sentencing, which took place at Oregon
Federal Court in Eugene, Oregon. Judge Aiken applied a "terrorism enhancement" to the sentence. McGowan was incarcerated in the highly restrictive
370:
filed a lawsuit on behalf of multiple prisoners, including McGowan and his wife. In the time following the filing of this case, several news pieces that expose the CMUs have been published.
413:. The documentary follows McGowan's history with the ELF while examining the group at large. The film was shown on the PBS documentary series POV and on-line in September–October 2011.
387:
pointed out that this regulation had been declared unconstitutional, and McGowan was released back to a halfway house on April 5. On June 5, 2013, McGowan was released on probation.
1183:
551:
405:
1316:
1040:
373:
On
December 11, 2012, McGowan was released to a halfway house in New York City. He was taken into custody again on April 4, 2013, several days after writing an article for the
244:. Meyerhoff agreed to be a federal cooperating witness almost immediately. On December 22, Rodgers was found dead in his cell in Flagstaff, Arizona, from an apparent suicide.
1293:
334:
destruction of private property, it was possible their actions could have led to people's injuries or deaths. No government property was damaged in any of the incidents.
262:
On June 28, the government arraigned Nathan Block, Joyanna Zacher, McGowan and
Jonathan Paul on a 65-count superseding indictment. All four pleaded not guilty.
1467:
330:
count of conspiracy. The government recommended Paul be sentenced to 5 years in prison. All four defendants were free to argue for a lesser sentence.
165:" label was applied to his sentence, and McGowan was ultimately sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment. He was released on probation in June 2013.
342:
On June 4, 2007, McGowan was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and ordered to pay $ 1.9 million in restitution. U.S. District Court Judge
161:
McGowan was facing a minimum of life in prison if convicted when he accepted a non-cooperation plea agreement, pleading guilty on
November 9, 2006. A "
1472:
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146:, having been arrested and charged in federal court on multiple counts of arson and conspiracy, relating to the arson of Superior Lumber company in
186:
1191:
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217:, and was an employee of WomensLaw.org, a nonprofit group that helps women in domestic abuse situations navigate the legal system.
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On
November 9, 2006, McGowan and co-defendants Jonathan Paul, Joyanna Zacher and Nathan Block pleaded guilty and signed a
271:
231:
On
December 7, 2005, one of the largest arrests of environmental activists in American history began. Using the code name
1213:
1091:
917:
941:
279:" indictments have elicited concern, from activists, that authorities have "cracked the super-secrecy of ALF and ELF".
1066:
519:
1121:
1041:"The Terrorism Enhancement: An obscure law stretches the definition of terrorism, and metes out severe punishments"
1394:
410:
202:
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831:(Press release). Major Executive Speeches. Federal Bureau of Investigation. January 20, 2006. Archived from
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135:
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492:
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728:"18 U.S.C. § 924 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 924. Penalties"
636:
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1417:. Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Department of Justice. January 2006. Archived from
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326:. The agreement does not require the defendants' cooperation (i.e., informing on others).
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400:
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1294:"Environmental activist Daniel McGowan released MDC prison; returned to halfway house"
753:
1441:
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182:
966:"Construction and Application of Federal Domestic Terrorism Sentencing Enhancement"
810:
788:
427:
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311:
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article violated a regulation against inmates "publishing under a byline"; the
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99:
1099:
924:
595:
948:
343:
292:
241:
162:
32:
811:"Environmental + Anarchist witch-hunt under way, a very coherent summary"
596:"Is this elf a terrorist? The first New Yorker convicted of ecoterrorism"
379:
criticizing CMUs. The stated reason for McGowan's detention was that the
288:
174:
50:
1398:
567:
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and others. McGowan was a graduate student earning a master's degree in
1340:
366:
Close to a year prior to the latest transfer, in March 2010, the
1378:
995:
206:
178:
1250:"Jailed Environmentalist Daniel McGowan released to halfway house"
781:"Secret Grand Jury investigations have led to indictments of 12"
300:
1478:
Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government
287:", "aimed at disrupting and discrediting political movements".
283:
organizations have condemned the arrests, some calling them a "
572:
561:
236:
682:(Press release). U.S. Department of Justice. January 20, 2006
621:
247:
On
January 20, federal prosecutors, the head of the FBI, and
154:, on May 21, 2001. His arrest is part of what the FBI dubbed
314:
talk crosses the line into violence and criminal activity".
661:
193:. He has worked on many activist issues including military
680:"Eleven defendants indicted on domestic terrorism charges"
787:. Independent Media Center. January 2006. Archived from
355:, Illinois, from August 2008 to October 2010.
553:
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
406:
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
306:". The government disputes these claims: FBI Director
121:
7 years in prison, $ 1.9 million restitution
1010:"Man sentenced to seven years for ecoterrorism fires"
493:"Eco-Terror Indictments 'Operation Backfire' Nets 11"
150:, on January 2, 2001, and Jefferson Poplar Farms in
1367:"Department of Justice press release of the arrest"
117:
109:
97:
85:
77:
69:
61:
39:
23:
1214:"Guantanamo north: Inside U.S. secretive prisons"
1184:"Communications management units federal prisons"
846:
844:
842:
754:"Backstory: Eco-vigilantes: All in 'The Family?'"
1427:"Government charges local man as eco-terrorist"
1352:Radio interview of McGowan following sentencing
1016:. Seattle, WA. AP. June 4, 2007. Archived from
637:"Government Charges Local Man As Eco-Terrorist"
568:"PBS/POV – only synopsis and biographical info"
861:. United States Attorney, District of Oregon.
8:
1361:(audio and print transcript). June 11, 2007.
867:. U.S. Department of Justice. Archived from
992:"Notes from terrorism enhancement hearing"
520:"Former ELF Eco-Saboteur Speaks at the UO"
487:
485:
310:stated the agency takes action "only when
20:
73:Environmental and social justice activist
1309:"Daniel McGowan: The FBI's least wanted"
752:Knickerbocker, Brad (January 30, 2006).
1238:. National Public Radio. March 4, 2011.
1220:. National Public Radio. March 3, 2011.
856:United States v. Daniel Gerard McGowan"
542:
540:
448:
409:was released in theaters and on DVD by
594:Grigoriadis, Vanessa (June 18, 2007).
142:. The U.S. government considers him a
454:
452:
7:
518:Mortensen, Camilla (April 6, 2017).
187:Christ the King Regional High School
113:Arson and conspiracy to commit arson
1307:Merlan, Anna (September 25, 2013).
1276:"Daniel McGowan back in prison CMU"
1468:American people convicted of arson
1369:. January 19, 2006. Archived from
1122:"Daniel McGowan moved back to CMU"
1067:"Tales from inside the U.S. Gitmo"
947:. November 8, 2006. Archived from
923:. November 9, 2006. Archived from
899:. November 8, 2006. Archived from
702:"Arson suspect kills self in jail"
635:Bader, Eleanor J. (June 1, 2006).
353:United States Penitentiary, Marion
14:
620:. Free Jeff Luers. Archived from
1473:American prisoners and detainees
1379:"Civil Liberties Defense Center"
1190:. March 17, 2011. Archived from
1065:McGowan, Daniel (June 8, 2009).
385:Center for Constitutional Rights
368:Center for Constitutional Rights
31:
1039:Harris, Shane (July 13, 2007).
497:Federal Bureau of Investigation
299:" carried out "in the midst of
255:Rubin, and Josephine Overaker.
138:, formerly associated with the
16:American environmental activist
994:. May 15, 2007. Archived from
199:Republican National Convention
89:Jennifer Synan (divorced 2015)
1:
1014:KOMO (Radio & TV station)
759:The Christian Science Monitor
349:Communication Management Unit
272:The Christian Science Monitor
221:Arrest and Operation Backfire
197:, demonstrations against the
1126:earthfirstnews.wordpress.com
295:, claim the operations are "
134:(born 1974) is an American
47:1974 (age 49–50)
1504:
1463:American environmentalists
1433:. Brooklyn, NY. June 2006.
1415:"FBI's Operation Backfire"
1232:"Leaving Guantanamo north"
224:
464:Federal Bureau of Prisons
411:Oscilloscope Laboratories
203:Really Really Free Market
125:
93:
30:
266:Criticism of prosecution
227:Operation Backfire (FBI)
1448:Animal Liberation Front
894:"Zacher plea agreement"
829:"Mueller, January 2006"
433:Animal Liberation Front
1453:Earth Liberation Front
1387:"Green is the new Red"
954:on September 23, 2007.
930:on September 23, 2007.
918:"Block plea agreement"
423:Environmental movement
140:Earth Liberation Front
136:environmental activist
1373:on December 14, 2006.
1319:on September 27, 2013
470:on September 30, 2013
338:Sentencing and prison
205:, and the support of
185:, and graduated from
132:Daniel Gerard McGowan
81:Released June 5, 2013
44:Daniel Gerard McGowan
1401:on November 11, 2020
1280:greenisthenewred.com
1128:. February 27, 2011.
1102:on September 4, 2011
874:on November 27, 2006
173:McGowan was born in
1421:on August 17, 2010.
1256:. December 12, 2012
791:on January 30, 2006
708:. December 23, 2005
249:US Attorney General
195:counter-recruitment
1395:"EcoPrisoners.org"
1282:. Huffington Post.
998:on March 26, 2009.
624:on March 15, 2008.
499:. January 20, 2006
297:fishing expedition
291:, alluding to the
277:Operation Backfire
275:reports that the "
233:Operation Backfire
156:Operation Backfire
152:Clatskanie, Oregon
144:domestic terrorist
1341:Daniel G. McGowan
1313:The Village Voice
1166:"Gitmo heartland"
906:on July 17, 2011.
855:
835:on April 9, 2010.
732:codes.findlaw.com
706:The Seattle Times
600:New York Magazine
281:Alternative media
129:
128:
25:Daniel G. McGowan
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1092:"Daniel McGowan"
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460:"Inmate Locator"
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252:Alberto Gonzales
148:Glendale, Oregon
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1144:. v. Holder
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1488:1974 births
1050:November 3,
1024:November 3,
942:"Paul plea"
579:October 23,
397:Sam Cullman
391:Documentary
363:, Indiana.
361:Terre Haute
304:McCarthyism
215:acupuncture
105:Pled guilty
62:Nationality
1442:Categories
1170:The Nation
662:"Homepage"
614:"Homepage"
444:References
438:Jeff Luers
285:witch-hunt
211:Jeff Luers
1296:. Update.
1106:August 4,
765:April 26,
686:April 26,
395:In 2011,
344:Ann Aiken
293:Red Scare
289:Activists
242:terrorism
207:prisoners
169:Biography
163:terrorism
1188:WNYC.org
550:(2011).
417:See also
312:volatile
209:such as
175:Brooklyn
65:American
55:New York
51:Brooklyn
1405:May 31,
1236:npr.org
1218:npr.org
976:May 29,
815:Indybay
118:Penalty
1140:"Aref
235:, the
201:, the
179:Queens
86:Spouse
1146:et al
1142:et al
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1407:2020
1345:IMDb
1325:2021
1262:2012
1200:2021
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1078:2010
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880:2021
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767:2011
739:2021
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648:2021
581:2011
531:2021
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476:2013
399:and
301:9/11
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1343:at
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558:POV
237:FBI
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