Kevin Olliff arrives at prison

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Animal liberation prisoner Kevin Olliff sentenced to a prison with a prisoner-run dairy and meat plant.

After a few weeks at a reception facility, where his communications were limited, Kevin arrived at his prison destination this week. And it’s a strange one.

Kevin was sentenced last month to 2.5 years in prison for possessing wire cutters and cammo clothing prosecutors say were to be used in the raid of a fox farm the night of his arrest.

Good news and bad news

The bad news is, Kevin is at a prison. And a good portion of the population works at on-site “dairy processing” and “meat processing” facilities.

The good news is, it’s a minimum security prison. Often animal liberation prisoners are sent to higher security prisons that are not consistent with their “crimes.” This happens in response to  prisoners whose crimes the prisons don’t understand, or to alarmist “terrorist” rhetoric in the media.

Prison has an on-site “meat processing” facility

It is a twist of cruel irony, the prison where Kevin was designated has an on-site flesh-processing plant, where prisoners process animal flesh for the prison system. There is also a dairy facility at the prison. View a video about all of this here:

He can receive mail again, so please send him a letter at his new address:

Note: Kevin’s legal name is “Kevin Johnson.”

Kevin Johnson
M42382
Vandalia Correctional Center
Post Office Box 500
Vandalia, Illinois 62471

Mail rules at Vandalia Correctional Center:

Here are the mail rules lifted directly from the Illinois State Prison’s website. They seem to indicate books can be mailed directly to prisoners, provided they are in the correct type of envelope.

“Inmates can receive correspondence, legal mail and publications, which are reviewed to determine whether they are obscene or constitute a danger to safety and security. The institutional Publication Review Committee reviews all publications that are not on the approved list, and will disapprove materials that do not meet criteria. Inmates can receive publications, including books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers and catalogs in accordance with department regulations. Inmates can receive publications from a vendor, friend or family. There is no limit through the mail. Publications brought to the facility shall be limited to 5 per visit.

Guidelines need to be followed for envelopes and packages.

• Envelopes that are padded with clear bubble wrap will be accepted. Envelopes that have this type of padding can be easily scanned.
• Envelopes padded with gray diamond dust and corrugated cardboard boxes mailed from family and friends will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender without being opened.”

Activists mass-mail ALF guide to 100 neighbors of proposed mink farm

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The Fur Farm Intelligence Unit sends The Final Nail #4 to everyone within half a mile of upcoming fur farm.

In a communique received by the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, the Fur Farm Intelligence Unit announced it had mailed a copy of the Animal Liberation Front guide The Final Nail #4 to every address within 0.5 miles of a proposed Idaho mink farm.

A surge of fur farm raids follow every time a new volume of the guide is released, and since 1996 The Final Nail has been the source of much fear among the fur industry.

The proposed fur farm

In mid-January, local media reported construction was to begin on a mink farm at the intersection of 800 East and Hwy 91 in Preston, Idaho. Despite neighborhood opposition, the City Council failed to intervene and the new mink farm appears to be on the fast track to opening.

The situation is similar to one faced by the community of Craig, Colorado last fall. When the County Council opted to postpone a decision to block expansion of a small mink farm, anonymous activists raided it within a week and shut it down.

Before this week, the distribution of an ALF “how to” guide to recruit the local community had never been attempted.

Local media covers the mass-mailing

In an article covering the Fur Farm Intelligence Unit’s mass-mailing (“Animal rights activists targeting Preston mink farm“), the Herald-Journal disputes the FFIU’s claim that the City Council failed to act, stating the proposed farm falls outside city jurisdiction, with final approval falling on the Franklin County Commission.

What is the “Fur Farm Intelligence Unit”?

The mass-mailing is the latest move for what (in all likelihood) is a nebulous group called the Fur Farm Intelligence Unit. They have taken credit for the release of sensitive fur industry information such as fur farm addresses and dates fur farmers are out of town.

A look at the data released by the FFIU to date:

August, 2009: Released a list of attendees at the Canadian Mink Breeder’s Association, and the dates several fur farmers were booked at nearby hotels (and consequently would not be home to protect their farms from the ALF.)

December, 2009: Released the address of an unknown Oregon mink farm.

October, 2010: Released the addresses of three unknown mink farms, a new feed supplier, and a new fur industry researcher.

July, 2012: Released a list of 92 unlisted fox farms.

Their message to local residents

Part of the FFIU’s message, included with each copy of The Final Nail #4, read:

“The instructions in this manual may represent your last hope in ridding this fur factory farm from your neighborhood. This guide offers the quickest solution to shut down a fur farm and drive it from your neighborhood forever. Since 1996, over 100 mink and fox farms have been raided using the step-by-step techniques in this guide.”

Preston is a previous ALF target

The town was visited by the Animal Liberation Front in 1997, when 5,000 mink were released from the Palmer Mink Farm.

The communique and letter to Preston residents reads, in full:

“Animal rights group floods Preston mailboxes with guide to raiding mink farms
Group urges raid on proposed fur farm if allowed to open

Preston, Idaho – After the City Council failed to block a proposed mink farm in Preston, this week the “Fur Farm Intelligence Unit” mailed a copy of The Final Nail #4 to every home within half a mile of the proposed farm. The guide was delivered to 95 homes in total. The manual contains a step-by-step, “proven method” for raiding a fur farm and shutting it down.

Recently, the community of Craig, Colorado was faced with the same dilemma, with the County Council failing to act swiftly to block an unwanted mink farm from expanding, despite neighborhood opposition. Anonymous individuals then applied the simple methods in The Final Nail #4, raided the farm overnight, and shut it down permanently.

The note to Preston residents included in the packages reads, in part:

“The instructions in this manual may represent your last hope in ridding this fur factory farm from your neighborhood. This guide offers the quickest solution to shut down a fur farm and drive it from your neighborhood forever. Since 1996, over 100 mink and fox farms have been raided using the step-by-step techniques in this guide.”

The guide, sent free of charge to everyone within half a mile of the proposed farm, contains instruction on:

• How to bypass farm security.
• How to remove fencing.
• How to maximize economic damage and chances of closure.

It also includes addresses for every fur farm in Idaho.

The communique urges a raid on the farm if it is allowed to open. In their statement, the “Fur Farm Intelligence Unit” stated:

“We hope you can defeat this farm legally. And that if your sworn representatives fail to represent you, that you apply the methods in this guide and shut the proposed mink farm down forever.”

This mass-mailing follows a raid of another Idaho mink farm in August, in which 2,500 to 5,000 mink were released, with damages estimated in excess of $1 million.

Idahoans For Animal Liberation

***

Addendum

Every copy of The Final Nail #4 sent to Preston residents included the following note:

Enclosed, you will find The Final Nail #4, a proven method for shutting down fur farms. This how-to guide is accompanied by a list of every fur farm in Idaho.

You are being sent this because, as you may be aware, a mink farm is scheduled to open with a half-mile of you, at 800 East and Hwy 91.

You may also be aware that everywhere mink farms have opened, from Utah to Wisconsin, property values have plummeted, groundwater has been contaminated, and the smell has made many homeowners unable to remain on their property.

You may also be aware that the Preston City Council recently ignored pleas from residents, and paved the way for this mink farm to open in your neighborhood.

The instructions in this manual may represent your last hope in ridding this fur factory farm from your neighborhood. This guide offers the quickest solution to shut down a fur farm and drive it from your neighborhood forever. Since 1996, over 100 mink and fox farms have been raided using the step-by-step techniques in this guide. And as a result, many have had to shut down.

We are presenting this guide free of charge so you may protect your community from the threat to animals and your health posed by fur farms. And we hope that when you shut down this soon-to-open mink farm, you move on to drive from your community all chicken farms, pig farms, egg farms, and other prisons where animals are confined.

In November, the community of Craig, Colorado was in a similar situation to the one you face, with a mink farm poised to expand and the County Council failing to act. Facing the potential of living with a large mink farm indefinitely, individuals took it upon themselves to take action, raiding the farm overnight. The farm was forced to shut down.

We hope you can defeat this farm legally. And that if your sworn representatives fail to represent you, that you apply the methods in this guide and shut the proposed mink farm down forever.

Fur Farm Intelligence Unit
January 24th, 2014

The farm is not scheduled to open until 2016. There are four other mink farms in Preston which can be raided in the meantime.”

Rebecca Rubin Sentenced to 5 Years for ALF & ELF Arsons

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After 7 years on the run, an ALF saboteur is sentenced for freeing horses, more.

After turning herself in in 2012 following 7 years on the run, and pleading guilty last October, this week Rebecca Rubin was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. The sentence is much less than the 7.5 years the government was requesting.

In the media, the arson elements of her charges overshadowed the two actions in which she admitted to freeing wild horses from BLM corrals, where the horses were to be auctioned for slaughter.

Rubin was sentenced for four Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front actions:

•  Freeing 400 wild horses from a federal land management corral in Oregon as others set the property on fire (1998)
• Bringing gasoline to a ski resort under construction in Vail, Colo., later used to ignite fires that destroyed the ski complex (1998)
• Bringing incendiary devices to the Medford, Ore., office of U.S. Forest Industries, which were later used in an arson fire (1998)
• Freeing wild horses from a California BLM facility as others set fire to a barn (2001)

“Animals and the natural world have always been for me a source of profound joy, wonder and solace, and their mistreatment and destruction a source of indescribable pain. By way of trying to explain–but not excuse–my actions, I reached a point in my early twenties when I could longer contain or appropriately channel the grief, despair, and powerlessness I felt in response to the mistreatment of animals and the natural world.”

South Dakota Attorney General Interviewed about A.L.F. “Hit List”

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Attorney General Marty Jackley weighs in on the threat of The Final Nail #4.

A South Dakota political website recently interviewed South Dakota’s Attorney General on the Animal Liberation Front guide The Final Nail #4. In the interview, he states the fur farm raiding guide creates…

“…a heightened risk and those in the potentially affected areas have been and are being contacted by local law enforcement.”

(There are six known fur farms in South Dakota).

Final Nail #4 makes waves

Over the last six months, it was speculated by mainstream media that the recent surge of fur farm raids was sparked, in part, by the release of The Final Nail #4, a how-to guide on raiding fur farms. While there wasn’t a huge amount of new information contained in the new Animal Liberation Front manual, the timing of its release (coming out just weeks prior to the campaign) would indicate it is possible the The Final Nail #4  had a role.

The Final Nail #4 received an abnormal amount of media coverage upon its release, with at least 7 news articles and several local TV reports covering its publication nationwide. The general message from the coverage was: The fur industry is scared.

And they had no idea of how credible their concerns were, as the next six months would see 10 fur farm raids.

South Dakota Attorney General weighs in

Part of the online tremors caused by The Final Nail #4 was an article on “South Dakota’s #1 Political Website,” which featured a brief interview with South Dakota’s Attorney General about The Final Nail, posted below.

(Despite quoting from it and posting an image of the cover, the two-part article refuses to call The Final Nail by name, instead calling it simply “the hit list.”)

Here is the interview:

1.      What’s your general impression of what [the Final Nail authors are] doing?  Is it ‘free speech’ or something darker?

Jackley: While our family is involved in ranching/farming and I proudly display the state bird and fish in my office, I respect its free speech until it is acted upon or causes harm to person or property.

2.      In encouraging the release of animals and vandalism, have the people involved in creating the list committed a crime for which they can be prosecuted? If not, should it be a crime?

Jackley: Exercising free speech is not a crime; however, if acted upon to harm person or property it could fall under trespassing, vandalism, theft, intentional damage to property etc, including the act of “aiding and abetting.”  You may recall as US Atty, I charged Greenpeace for their conduct/involvement at Mt. Rushmore that sent two of our federal agents to the hospital (they were not seriously hurt so it could have been worse).

3.      Do you think the release of this ‘animal activist hit list’ creates a heightened risk for these farmers & business owners?

Jackley: Yes, unfortunately there is a heightened risk and those in the potentially affected areas have been and are being contacted by local law enforcement.

4.      Do you anticipate that Law Enforcement in the affected counties where these businesses are located will have to add additional safety measures at taxpayer cost to respond to the threat?

Jackley: Through intelligence sharing law enforcement has been aware of this list for some time, prior to the New York Times article. Law enforcement in those affected counties has been given this information and they should make their own decisions on what necessary resource and precautionary measures that should be made.

Largest fox farm in U.S. named as target of “burglary tool” conspiracy

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Prosecutor’s name the Aeschleman fox farm as the intended “burglary target” of Kevin Olliff and Tyler Lang.

Since the arrest of Kevin Olliff and Tyler Lang for “possession of burglary tools,” one thing was suspiciously missing from the prosecution’s case: A target. At no point was the intended “burglary” target named, adding another layer of absurdity and farce to the case, where two activists were charged with possessing “burglary tools” merely for having wire cutters in their vehicle.

Last week, Kevin Olliff was sentenced to 2.5 years on these charges. Towards the end of his case, the prosecution finally revealed their theory (unsubstantiated by evidence) as to where Tyler Lang and Kevin Olliff were headed that night: The Aeschleman fox farm, in Roanoke IL.  The two were pulled over in Roanoke, allegedly a short distance from the farm.

The Aeschleman fox farm is notable for two reasons: It is believed to be the largest fox fur farm in the US (or was – see below). And it was the location of among the only footage ever taken of animals being killed on a fur farm, as the target of a PETA investigation in the 1990s.

The same week the Aeschleman farm was named in Kevin Olliff’s case, the Coalition Against Fur Farms named a new fox farm, also in Illinois, that may replace the Aeschleman farm as the largest fox farm in the country. There is not enough information to make it conclusive, but the writeup on this new farm can be read here.

There is recent information that the Aeschleman fox farm is still open. And so far, it remains untouched by the Animal Liberation Front.

Endnote: Updated prison address for Kevin

Note: Kevin’s legal name is “Kevin Johnson.”

Kevin Johnson
M42382
Vandalia Correctional Center
Post Office Box 500
Vandalia, Illinois 62471

Activist Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Wire Cutters

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Kevin Olliff receives 30 month sentence for possessing fur farm “burglary tools”.

Tuesday, Kevin Olliff accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 2.5 years in Illinois prison. The only allegation against him was possessing tools the prosecution claimed were intended to be used to “burglarize” a fox farm.

With credit for time served, and Illinois’ “half time” credit, Kevin is expected to be released in 10 months.

This is a significantly harsher sentence than the one received by co-defendant Tyler Lang, who received a sentence of time served and was released in November. It has been speculated Kevin’s history of arrests for animal rights activity made him a more appetizing target for the prosecution, translating to a longer sentence (Kevin served time in California on “stalking” charges for his role in the successful campaign against POM Wonderful).

Background

Tyler Lang and Kevin Olliff are two Los Angeles animal rights activists who were arrested in rural Illinois in August for “possession of burglary tools.” After a traffic stop in which they refused consent to a police search, their car was searched anyway. Inside, police allege they found bolt cutters, wire cutters, muriatic acid, ski masks, and cammo clothing. Prosecutor’s allege the items found were intended to be used to target a nearby fur farm.

A case that moved from generic burglary to animal liberation

The case had numerous turns, including the prosecution claiming to have a neighbors surveillance footage from a mink farm raid that happened elsewhere in Illinois the night before his arrest (along with Tyler Lang).

While it was clear from day one the prosecution was using their history as animal rights activists against Tyler and Kevin, it wasn’t until more recently this became explicit.

First, the prosecutor stated his intention to use the Morris, Illinois mink release (which occurred the night before their arrest) to build a circumstantial case that Kevin Olliff intended to use the items found in his car to target a fur farm.

Later, the prosecutor named a specific fur farm he believed Kevin and Tyler intended to target the night of their arrest.

In the end, the government made it explicit: They intended to try Kevin Olliff for a full-blown conspiracy to raid a fur farm.

Government desperate for an arrest

The last six months of 2013 saw 10 fur farm raids and not a single arrest. It’s clear the government took a special interest in Kevin and Tyler  in the absence of their ability to catch the ALF. Despite nearly all of the fur farm raids occurring after their arrest, the government appeared willing to settle for something symbolic (arresting animal rights activists at night in the rural Midwest) vs. actual success apprehending the Animal Liberation Front.

Transported to prison

Kevin was taken from Woodford County Jail almost immediately after his sentencing, and transferred to a reception facility in Joliet. He is expected to stay there for a month, before being transported to an actual prison. During this next month, his ability to make phone calls is limited, though he can receive (but not send) mail. His new address will be posted as soon as it is known.

What you can do

This outcome, while not ideal, would not have been possible without the legal maneuvering of Kevin’s legal team, a group of hard working activist attorneys from Chicago (and one Woodford County attorney). Kevin’s support fund is still badly overdrawn from legal fees, and several thousand more dollars are needed to pay the attorneys.

Please consider organizing a fundraiser for Kevin, or donating directly to his legal defense.

Donate here.

Check the Support Kevin & Tyler site for frequent updates, to donate, and all the latest.

Document: Complete set of internal fur industry security alerts

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Read complete set of 42 leaked Fur Commission security alerts in one PDF.

Over the past month, I have posted 35 security alerts sent to fur farmers by the Fur Commission (and 7 more in the year prior).

The audience for these is probably very small, of interest to people like:

• Activists interested in how industry talks about them when they think no one is listening.
• Those who end up in these alerts as “suspects” for being seen near fur farms (for whatever reason).
• The anonymous individuals of the Animal Liberation Front, whose work is the primary inspiration for these alerts.

While the audience is limited, I decided to post these over the past month in the interest of documenting a rare glimpse into the how an industry under siege responds to the threat of animal rights activists.

I have compiled every security alert I’ve obtained into one PDF document.

Download here.

Some background, if you haven’t followed this series:

All 42 security alerts: Links to every article

Announcing huge purge of internal fur industry “Security Alerts” (Series launch & background)
Leaked security alert #1: Aspiring fur farmer outed, more
Leaked security alert #2: Suspicious photographer in Iowa
Leaked security alert #3: Fear of daylight raid during “fur farm tour”
Leaked security alert #4: “Convicted felon” urging attacks on farms
Leaked security alert #5: Warning about “Ghosts in Our Machine” filmmaker
Leaked security alert #6: Trespassers on a fur farm in Idaho
Leaked security alert #7: Farmers warned of “undercover activist threat”
Leaked security alert #8: Meeting puts Oregon mink farmers on alert
Five leaked security alerts on Iowa fur farm arrests
Leaked Security Alert #10: “Suspicious” persons scouting Utah fur farm
Leaked security alert #11: Fur farmers follow suspicious car in Idaho
Leaked security alert #12: ALF raids fox farm during animal rights conference
Leaked security alert #13: Details on recent Utah mink release
Leaked security alert #14: Two activists arrested with “burglary tools”
Leaked security Alert #15: 400 mink released in Iowa
Leaked security alert #16: Farmers told to call police if their address is on the internet
Leaked security alert #17: Farmers warned of raids after talk by “extremist” felon
Leaked security alert #18: Two cars seen scouting Oregon fur farm
Leaked security alert #19: Thousands of mink freed in Idaho
Leaked security alert #20: New security advice for fur farms
Leaked security alert #21: Fur farmers upset over being ignored by police
Leaked security alert #22: Suspects seen scouting Wisconsin mink farm
Leaked security alert #23: Oregon fur farm reports trespassers
Leaked security alert #24: Car drives onto Utah mink farm
Leaked security alert #25: Unreported theft of 600 mink from Idaho farm
Leaked security alert #26: “Suspicious activity” alert after ag-gag charges dropped against Utah activist
Leaked security alert #27: Man seen taking notes outside Oregon mink farm
Leaked security alert #28: FBI claims “promising” evidence in Illinois mink farm raid
Leaked security alert #29: Unclaimed mink release in Minnesota
Leaked security alert #30: Farmers on alert over new Earth Crisis album
Final security alert: Police stop “animal rights felon”

Alerts posted prior to this month:
Leaked security alert: Released mink number in Iowa climbs to 500
More Leaked “Security Alerts”: Fur Commission Memos on Five ALF Fur Industry Actions
Leaked Security Alert: Two Suspicious Vehicles Seen at Fur Farms
Leaked Security Alert: Fur Farmers Look Into Lawsuit Against This Site
Leaked Security Alert: How Two Fur Farm Raiders Were Caught
Hunt for suspicious car in massive fur farm campaign
Security Memo: Unreported Fur Farm Raid Attempt in Idaho

Leaked Fur Commission "security alerts", 2009 – 2013

Feds raid slaughterhouse & three-time Animal Liberation Front target

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The Rancho Veal slaughterhouse, set on fire three times by the Animal Liberation Front, is raided by the USDA.

This week, the government raided a Petaluma slaughterhouse and confiscated hundreds of pounds of animal flesh the USDA said may be contaminated.

The Rancho Veal slaughterhouse is the only remaining slaughterhouse in the Bay Area, killing up to 200 cows daily (year 2000 numbers). Recently the slaughterhouse also began killing pigs.

The slaughterhouse has been the target of attempted arsons on three occasions from 1997 to 2000. Significant damage was done in two of the three actions.

These are the entries for each of the three arsons, from the Animal Liberation Front: Complete Diary of Actions, the First 30 Years:

February 19th, 1997
Petaluma, CA
Rancho Veal slaughterhouse was attacked by activists of the Bay Area Cell of the A.L.F. At least one semi-trailer rig was reportedly heavily damaged by fire. From the communiqué:

‘We placed 4 incendiary devices in a double, semi-trailer truck used for live animal transportation. We used a total of five liters of flammable liquid, which we placed in the engine, the top of the cab and the connecting wheelbase.’ – Animal Liberation Front

January 3rd, 2000
Petaluma, CA
Fire damaged three separate buildings at Rancho Veal Corp slaughterhouse. Three fires set: one in an office, one in a truck, and one in a storage building. Three slaughterhouse trucks were also partially destroyed. Owner stated if the fires had not been spotted early, “the whole place could have been destroyed.” Damages estimated at $250,000. Rancho Veal kills an estimated 200 cows a day. Second arson at this location.
Animal Liberation Front

March 24th
Petaluma, CA
Third arson at Rancho Veal slaughterhouse. Incendiary device left on room. Fire failed to do significant damage. Slogan found at the scene: “Stop the Killing”.

New attempt to link Illinois mink release to jailed activist

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After new allegations, donations needed for Kevin Olliff.

The case of a jailed animal rights activists took a new turn last week when the prosecutor made clear his intent to use an Illinois mink release against Kevin Olliff, jailed for “possession of burglary tools.”

Kevin is not being charged with the August 14th Illinois mink release. However the prosecution now intends to use this action to build a circumstantial case that the items found in Kevin Olliff’s car were to be used in a “burglary.”

The  release of 2,000 mink occurred elsewhere in Illinois the night before he was pulled over with codefendant Tyler Lang in rural Illinois. The Animal Liberation Front did not take credit for the raid.

If this is confusing, here is the point put another way:

“The indication is [the prosecution] will use this raid to circumstantially support a case Kevin intended to commit ‘burglary’ against another fur farm.” -from the Support Kevin and Tyler website.

This appears to be an underhanded way to use a crime against someone in court when there is not enough evidence to actually charge them with it.

Another development: Prosecutor names the intended “burglary” target

Also unveiled last week, the prosecutor named a specific fur farm as the intended “burglary” target the night of Kevin Olliff’s arrest. Prior to this, Kevin was being charged with “possession of burglary tools” without a specific target being named. It’s not yet know which fur farm is being named, only that a particular farm will be alleged as the intended target of a “burglary” the night of his arrest.

Donations needed.

After months of speculation as to allegations in Kevin’s case, he is now in no uncertain way an animal liberation prisoner. And he needs our help.

Kevin has been very fortunate to have dedicated activists attorneys fighting his case, however funds are needed to see the case through and guaranteed the most favorable outcome. A good defense can mean the difference between prison time and walking free, and supporters of Kevin are doing a fundraising push to raise the needed funds.

What you can do

• Share Kevin’s Indiegogo fundraising page on your website or social media page.
• Donate.

And don’t forget to write Kevin a letter:

Kevin Johnson #4565
Woodford County Jail
111 E Court St.
Eureka, IL 61530

View search warrant in FBI raid of San Diego house

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Read two FBI search warrants seeking evidence in mink farm raids.

When anonymous activists shut down a Colorado mink farm last month, it was no surprise that no one was caught. In over 30 years of Animal Liberation Front raids, there have been fewer than 40 arrests for nearly 1,500 actions.

That doesn’t mean the FBI doesn’t try. Two weeks ago, the FBI raided a home in San Diego seeking evidence in the Colorado action. I am posting the warrant below, as well as the warrant to search a vehicle in the Bay Area.

A few notes about the warrants:

• There are two warrants: The first for a home in San Diego. The second for a vehicle and “tracker warrant” in San Diego. Presumably the “tracker warrant” refers to placing a tracking device on the vehicle.
• They specifically seek evidence for charges of Animal Enterprise Terrorism.
• While seemingly focused on the Craig, Colorado mink farm raid, they seek evidence in any crimes committed between “July and November 2013.” This was a period that saw 10 mink releases nationwide.
• They call for seizure of a laundry list of items from the Animal Liberation Front’s toolbox, including wire-cutters, bolt-cutters, and gloves. It also calls for literature related to fur farms and addresses of companies that use animals.
• The second warrant indicates there were items stolen from the property of the mink farm in Colorado, primarily guns. Not only would burglary of a home be far outside the range of standard Animal Liberation Front protocol, fur farmers are also frequently suspected of padding loss claims after ALF raids (presumably for insurance reasons).

Download a PDF of the warrant here, or view below.

FBI search warrant investigating Colorado mink farm raid

Final security alert: Police stop “animal rights felon”

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The last in a series of leaked Fur Commission “security alerts.”

Synopsis of this alert

While usually prone to hyperbole and inaccuracies, this particular alert – although not terribly interesting – is 100% true.

“FCUSA Security Alert
July 3, 2009
Farmers Urged to Be Alert

Franklin, Idaho law enforcement pulled over convicted animal rights felon Peter Daniel Young today. Young, who served time for over million dollars in damages on farms in multiple states, was traveling with a female redhead in her early 20s and driving a rented white Toyota Yaris. They were filming farms.

Utah farmers reported suspicious people on their farms and trespassers with video cameras were seen in Oregon earlier this year.”

Leaked security alert #30: Farmers on alert over new Earth Crisis album

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The 30th in a series of leaked Fur Commission “security alerts” Animal Liberation Front-line is posting this month.

A synopsis of this alert

When they think they’re only talking amongst themselves, animal abusers wear their naivete on their sleeves.

In this series I’ve posted internal fur industry communications in which farmers express confusion over not being coddled by police and suggestions to call police if their address is on the internet, among other bizarre examples. This is another one for that list.

In this alert, among the usual mentions of ALF prisoners and documentary filmmakers seeking footage, the FCUSA thought it necessary to warn farmers that vegan band Earth Crisis has a new album out. Lock your doors.

“FCUSA Security Alert

July 21, 2009

Farmers Urged to Be Alert

In Utah, the trials of William “BJ” Viehl and Alex Hall, which were schedueld for July 27, 28, 29 in Salt Lake City, have been postponed until late August or early September. Bail was revoked for Viehl and Hall for violating the terms of their pre-trial conditions. Viehl, it is alleged, communicated with ALF / ELF criminals in violation of his bail terms. Both will remain in the Davis County Jail in Farmington, Utah until their court dates.

Again, in Utah, Jordan Halliday, jailed for refusing to cooperate with a grand jury, was indicted with felony contempt of court. He has been released on bail.

Convicted criminal Peter Daniel Young, who served time for over million dollars in damages to farms in multiple states, has been spotted in Oregon and Idaho doing surveillance and filming farms. He was traveling in a rental car with [name redacted].

A new book on Rodney Coronado, Operation Bite Back, has just been released.

Earth Crisis has released its To The Death album.

Skin Trade, a film attacking the natural fiber fur clothing business, is in production.

Several suspicious people have approached farmers seeking work. Farmers are being targeted with cameras, sometimes hidden (in shirt buttons, glasses, hats, bandanas, purses, etc). Assume there may be a camera rolling when approached by strangers.

Do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement about anything or anyone appearing out of place in your neighborhood. Please pass over any license plates, description or suspicious people and vehicles to Fur Commission USA and we can check names of anyone considered for employment.

Fur Commission USA maintains a detailed Neighborhood Watch Report that is available for you and law enforcement. Ask us for it.

Distributed by Teresa Platt,
Fur Commission USA,
www.furcommission.com,
619-575-0139.
furfarmers@aol.com”

Leaked security alert #29: Unclaimed mink release in Minnesota

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The 29th in a series of leaked Fur Commission “security alerts” Animal Liberation Frontline is posting this month.

Synopsis of this alert

This offers new details on an unclaimed mink release from 2009. This incident had been previously reported, but very few details were available until now.

According to this report, mink were released within the fence, and presumably all were recaptured.

“FCUSA Security Alert
September 8, 2009

Attempted Attack on Mink Farm

Sunday, 9:30 pm, September 6, 2009, Richmond Minnesota – The Lang Farm reported spotting trespassers on the farm, police chased them and heard them jump the fence, moving through the brush around the farm (wearing night vision goggles?). No holes cut in fence but mink lose in and out of the mink yard (less than 50).

Farmers urged to remain alert as this was obviously an attempt  to release the mink and often such events happen to several farms wthin a week, all within driving distance of each other.”

Delayed report: “Trespassers” start fire at Wisconsin mink farm

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Read a 2011 report of a mysterious fire set at a Sheboygan mink farm.

A reader alerted me to this interesting post on Twitter from 2011: A report of a fire started at mink farm, set by “trespassers” of an unspecified nature.

(Click to enlarge)

This Twitter account appears to be operated by someone who follows Sheboygan County (Wisconsin) police chatter via a scanner, and tweets synopses of various police calls.

This could be purposeless vandalism. It could also, possibly, be an unclaimed ALF sabotage action. We may never know.

According to Final Nail, The targeted farm appears to be:

Dittrich Mink Ranch
N7446 County Road LS
Mosel, WI 53083
Contact: Gene D. Dittrich, Christel Sanders
Notes: Mink farm. Christel Sanders is President of the Kettle Moraine Mink Breeders Association.

As noted in a previous article on Frontline, there have been an unusual number of fires at mink farms across the country since 2011, with no officially ruled cause being reported (see: “Curious Fires Hit Four Key Fur Industry Targets Since 2011“). One of these fires occurred just down the road at the Zimbal Minkery in Oosburg, the largest mink farm in the country, which is also in Sheboygan County.

There is no further indication (that I could find) as to whether the fire spread, if there were any arrests, what the outcome of this police call was, or if the farmer did in fact “take his handgun out.”