Breaking: FBI Makes Arrest in A.L.F. “Lone Wolf” Arsons

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Informant used in arrest of Walter Bond for “A.L.F. Lone Wolf” arsons

News is emerging, but the FBI has arrested a man in connection with the A.L.F. arson at Sheepskin Factory in Denver, Colorado. Walter Bond, 34, was arrested by federal agents Thursday.

The FBI alleges Bond admitted to an informant to setting two additional fires – one at Tandy Leather Factory, the other at Tiburon (foie gras restaurant), both in Utah. In anonymous communiques, “A.L.F. Lone Wolf” took credit.

The criminal complaint outlines the case against Walter Bond, and alleges the following:

*On July 1st, investigators received a call from a confidential informant wishing to provide information on the Sheepskin Factory and Tandy Leather Factory arsons. The informant stated Bond had told him/her in a telephone call from the Salt Lake City library to refer to Animal Liberation Front-Line (formerly Voice of the Voiceless) and scroll down to an article on the Sheepskin Factory arson to learn what he’d “been up to”.

*On July 22nd, the confidential informant arranged a monitored conversation with Walter Bond in a Ramada Inn in Denver, Colorado. Investigators allege Bond was heard admitting to three arsons: Sheepskin Factory, Leather Factory, and Tiburon. Bond was arrested subsequent to the conversation.

The arrest follows three months of A.L.F. activity in which three businesses (in UT and CO) were targeted by arson. “A.L.F. Lone Wolf” took credit for all three arsons in two communiques. Coverage of the arsons can be read at:

Sheepskin Factory arson story

Tandy Leather Factory arson story

Tiburon restaurant arson story

To date, Bond is charged only with the Sheepskin Factory arson. The crime carries a mandatory minimum of 5 years in federal prison. Additional charges for the two Utah arsons are possible.

The suspect also served prison time in 1997 for an arson at a meth lab in Iowa. Bond received notoriety when the vegan straight edge band Earth Crisis wrote a song about Bond and the arson titled “To Ashes” for their 2009 album “To The Death”.

The criminal complaint makes note of the term “Go Vegan” used in one of the Long Wolf communiques, and Bond’s “Vegan” neck tattoo (see below).

The timeline of events leading to Walter Bond’s arrest, as outlined in the criminal complaint, are as follows:

April 30th, 2010

Fire destroys Sheepskin Factory store in Denver, Colorado. The uninsured building is destroyed, causing $500,000 damages.

Investigators review security camera footage showing an individual wearing a hooded sweatshirt and backpack near the building around the time of the fire.

June 5th, 2010

The Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City, Utah is broken into and a fire is set causing extensive damage.

July 1st, 2010

The FBI receives a call from a confidential informant, stating Walter Bond had admitted to him/her he was responsible for two fires: the Sheepskin Factory arson, and a second fire at Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City, Utah. The informant stated he/she believed Bond contacted him/her from a payphone at the Salt Lake City Library. When asked what he had been up to lately, Bond reportedly told the informant to visit www.voiceofthevoiceless.org, and that that’s what he’d “been up to”.

July 3rd, 2010

Tiburon, a restaurant serving foie gras in Sandy, Utah, is set on fire. Damages estimated at $10,000.

July 22nd, 2010

The informant arranges a meeting with Walter Bond at a Ramada Inn in Denver, Colorado. The meeting is recorded and monitored by the ATF. Agents state they hear Bond admit to setting the fires at Sheepskin Factory, Leather Factory, and Tiburon. Bond reportedly stated it angered him the business made a profit from animals. Agents also report he stated he intended to burn Sheepskin Factory down again “in a couple of years”.

Subsequent to the monitored conversation, agents arrest Walter Bond. On his person they allegedly find a copy of “Declaration of War – Killing People to Save Animals and the Environment“.

Bond remains held in a Denver jail.

More news on the arrest will be made available as it emerges.

-Peter Young

From Dusk ’til Dawn: Animal Liberation History Book Released

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From Dusk ’til Dawn: A.L.F. / animal liberation movement history book out now

I’m happy to announce the release of the revised U.S. printing of Keith Mann’s 722 page history of the animal liberation movement.

After last year’s limited U.S. pressing, I have done a layout revision  and full printing of Keith Mann’s instant animal liberation classic. Previously available only as an import for nearly $50, From Dusk ’til Dawn is now available in the U.S. at a reasonable price for the first time.

Order From Dusk ’til Dawn.

Written by former Animal Liberation Front organizer Keith Mann, From Dusk ’til Dawn is a detailed account of the advance of the radical Animal Liberation Movement, from the English hunt saboteurs of the 1960’s, to the Animal Liberation Front of the 1970’s and 80’s, to the focused direct action campaigns of the 1990’s. Daring stories of masked liberators spiriting animals from labs in the middle of the night, militant vegans firebombing egg farm trucks, and the dramatic government response.

Fifteen years in the making, From Dusk ’til Dawn was born during Keith Mann’s lengthy prison sentence for Animal Liberation Front actions. His escape from custody in 1994 nearly scuppered the project but his determination to document the growth of the animal liberation movement ensured its completion. From Dusk ’til Dawn is a must-read for anyone wishing to understand why people break the law and give their lives to rescue animals from exploitation.

Order From Dusk ’til Dawn

722 pages

9 x 6 inches

ISBN 978-0955585005

AETA 4 Charges Dismissed

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Judge throws out indictment in AETA 4 case, new indictment possible

In a ruling issued Monday, a federal judge tossed out the Animal Enterprise Terrorism indictment against four activists. While a victory, this may not be the end for the defendants known as the “AETA 4”.

The dismissal of charges comes after a defense motion to dismiss, citing an unjustly vague indictment which didn’t specify what illegal conduct the four were accused of.  On Monday a judge agreed, and threw out the indictment.

Below is an excerpt from the judge’s ruling (from Green is the New Red):

In order for an indictment to fulfill its constitutional purposes, it must allege facts that sufficiently inform each defendant of what it is that he or she is alleged to have done that constitutes a crime. This is particularly important where the species of behavior in question spans a wide spectrum from criminal conduct to constitutionally protected political protest. While “true threats” enjoy no First Amendment protection, picketing and political protest are at the very core of what is protected by the First Amendment. Where the defendants’ conduct falls on this spectrum in this case will very likely ultimately be decided by a jury. Before this case proceeds to a jury, however, the defendants are entitled to a more specific indictment setting forth their conduct alleged to be criminal.

Yet defense attorneys believe the government will issue a new indictment, and the prosecution will continue to trial. Because the indictment was dismissed “without prejudice”, the option for the prosecution to refile remains open.

Joseph Buddenberg, Maryam Khajavi, Nathan Pope and Adriana Stumpo were arrested in February 2009 and charged with Animal Enterprise Terrorism. The indictment only alleged their participation in home demonstrations and the publishing of fliers with addresses of animal researchers.

The case, if charges are refiled, stands to potentially change the landscape of above-ground activism in the United States, making previously protected speech activity prosecutable as “terrorism”.

Read the judge’s ruling here.

– Peter Young

A.L.F. Takes Credit for Fire at Utah Foie Gras Restaurant

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A.L.F. Lonewolf strikes again: A Utah foie gras restaurant is set on fire, temporarily closes.

Overnight, Channel 4 news in Salt Lake City received a communique from “Lonewolf”, taking credit for an arson at Tiburon, a foie gras restaurant. The fire reportedly did $10,000 in damages, and temporarily closed the restaurant.

This is the second “Lonewolf” communique in recent weeks. The first took credit for two arsons: one at a Sheepskin Factory store in Denver, and the second a Leather Factory store in Salt Lake City.

The fire was first reported on by the Salt Lake Tribune on July 3rd. The coverage made no mention of a possible animal liberation motive.

Two and a half years ago another foie gras restaurant was targeted in Salt Lake City. A restaurant called The Metropolitan took foie gras off their menu as a result. The restaurant was quoted as saying they stopped serving foie gras after anonymous activists smashed their windows and turned off the gas main. The action cost them tens of thousands of dollars.

With these recent “Lonewolf” actions, and other communiques over the last 18 months, we see the A.L.F. abandoning the group model and working in a way that is both streamlined and minimizes risk: as individuals, working alone.

– Peter Young

Report From Court: A.L.F. Activist Receives 21 Months

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Report from the sentencing of Alex Hall, who received a 21-month sentence in the A.L.F. liberation of 650 mink in South Jordan, Utah

Over one year after his indictment for a 2008 mink liberation, a federal judge sentenced Alex Hall to 21 months in prison this week. The sentence was 3 months less than that of his co-defendant William Viehl, yet still more than three times the recommended sentence of six months.

Here is the report from Hall’s sentencing:

Both activists and fur farmers were in attendance for the final courtroom chapter in the “AETA 2” case of Alex Hall and William Viehl, arrested for the August 2008 liberation of 650 mink from the McMullin Fur Farm in South Jordan, Uah. They are the first prison sentences under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Prosecutor Huber first addressed the court. At William Viehl’s (Hall’s codefendant) sentencing, Huber showed the court an outrageously deceptive slideshow displaying images from A.L.F. arsons and excerpts from communiques for actions Viehl was not accused of. The presentation this time was more subdued, referring to Viehl’s sentence by asking the judge to “make a similar analysis today” (Viehl received 24 months).

Next, Lindsay McMullin, owner of the raided fur farm, spoke. Previously, this man who kills 3,000 mink annually expressed Viehl should be charged with “animal cruelty” for releasing 650 of the animals from his farm. He expressed similarly bizarre sentiments at Hall’s sentencing, stating: “I wish you would have been there that day (when they captured mink after the release)… the destruction you did to (the mink) was incredible.”

After thanking law enforcement and “the judicial system”, McMullin made this statement which telegraphed the long-term impact of mink releases on farmers and the industry:

“The entire industry has and still affected by this action…. We still get emails from other farmers who are intimidated by these illegal actions.”

Hall’s attorney spoke next, highlighting that Alex has no history of violence, and no criminal history… “but he does have compassion for animals.”

Then it was time for Judge Benson to hand down his sentence. Given the judge’s statements at Viehl’s sentencing, Hall’s sentencing could go one of several ways. Benson stated in Viehl’s case he intended to sentence him to three years, arriving at two only after Viehl showed remorse (note: an expression of remorse in a courtroom under threat of a severe sentence should not be taken as genuine). Thus, it would seem that the judge had obligated himself to sentence anyone who did not show extreme remorse to three years, and anyone who showed equal remorse to two. A sentence less than two was unlikely, given that Hall and Viehl were comparable in every category relevant to sentencing.

The judge began by stating he was inclined to give Hall the same sentence as Viehl (24 months). Instead, announced a sentence of 21 months. While this was still over three times the sentencing guidelines, it came as a surprise to most in the courtroom.

A few of the judge’s quotes:

“There are two main features of this sentence… to set a judgement for the criminal conduct of other people… This is a simple case: deterrence needs to be emphasized.”

“We all have different views… we almost never agree… nly when people get so far off that they directly interfere with people is it a problem.”

“To terrorize them, children, and belongings… that is wrong to ever happen.”

“Thank goodness we have legal processes to change things… voting, debates…” (went on to list numerous things that don’t achieve animal liberation)

“When we feel strongly about something, we don’t terrorize other people.”

“A message needs to be sent to people who believe so strongly in animals that it’s ok to vandalize and commit other acts… it just can’t happen in a civilized society.”

“You just can’t violate clearly stated laws”

FBI Targeting Ex-Activists: New Campaign Underway

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Authorities in CA on campaign of exploiting rifts among animal rights activists, another person visited

This recent visit is (at least) the fifth case in recent weeks of police and/or the FBI interviewing or attempting to interview activsts who have either dropped out or been ostracized. The recent campaign appears to target those viewed as weak links.

Reposted from NAALPO.

Recently, a trusted activist and ally in the So Cal community was coerced into the local police station to talk. The cops claimed (falsely) to have an arrest warrant, and convinced the activist to come down to the station – or face arrest. Agents and cops will say anything to terrorize people and it is completely legal for the authorities to lie to you. This particular activist was targeted due a recent falling out with other activists. Authorities most likely suspected the activist would give information since they were drifting from the movement due to previous intimidation*. The activist should have slammed the door in the cops’ faces and called an attorney. Among the many mistakes that were made by this activist, the biggest one of all was opening their mouth.

In addition to the police visit, former activists in the So Cal area were part of a swoop of visits by the FBI just this month. Agents targeted a former vegan – who has dropped out of the movement entirely – hoping to gain information on people still active. We must prepare ourselves for such harassment by agents and cops or continue to face dire situations that could have been easily prevented.

Talking to law enforcement will always hurt, you and others. The Feds or the local police are not your friends no matter how much they ensure you that they are trying to help you. Even when some answers may seem “innocent” or you work off the assumption that they have “nothing”, any information you provide them will incriminate other activists or yourself.  In the activist community, we have once simple rule: nobody talks, everybody walks. Many people often speak freely of this rule yet when the time comes to walk, they fall flat. It seems that everything discussed at security culture workshops is forgotten and a state of panic overrides common sense.

Law enforcement will always resort to fear and intimidation and we must resist such divisional tactics. They will instill paranoia of infiltration, government surveillance, pit activists against each other, or use activist drama as leverage. Although some of their advanced technology is a reality, interrogation is their primary form of dividing communities. Even if you think they know it already, don’t be fooled because they most likely do not. If they had all the information they needed, they wouldn’t be asking any questions, now would they? Talking to the Feds or local police puts you on the defense and nothing you say will ever help a situation.

In addition, answering Johnny Law’s questions presents a problem for fellow activists, many who will no longer trust someone who talks to the cops. This cripples activists’ ability to organize once they are consumed with thoughts about what was said and who will be visited next. Activists must then distance themselves from an individual who is willing to talk to the authorities due to future security concerns, thus weakening the community.

There are several consequences of talking and none should be taken lightly. It cannot be stressed enough that volunteering information or answering any questions for the cops and/or agents will result in isolation from the community and your activist friends. This in turn diminishes our effectiveness as a movement and strengthens the opposition. When you talk, connections are made where there weren’t any to begin with. Even reciting what you think is “common knowledge” to the police or Feds not only gets you talking, but can get others raided, arrested or injunctions filed. Talking translates into prison time, restraining orders, or lawsuits and a guaranteed loss of trust and alienation.

In order to resist the urge to talk, there are a few things you can do:

Unfortunately, this article was written in response to a close friend and great activist making a catastrophic and irreversible mistake. This activist was well liked in the community and now must be distant due to the serious nature of talking to cops. We can no longer ignore security culture as if it doesn’t matter – it does.

For more information concerning security culture and activist safety, check out “If an Agent Knocks” by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR).

* The activist was called and sent a letter by the PD before authorities visited their home.

International Animal Rights Gathering + Euro Dates

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Just a note for everyone in Europe: I will be doing several speaking dates from July 1st to July 11th, ending at the International Animal Rights Gathering in Italy. The schedule is below:

July 1st: Amsterdam (Netherlands)
July 2nd: Nijmegen (Netherlands)
July 3rd: Dusseldorf (Germany)
July 4th: Koln (Germany)
July 5th: Koln (Germany)
July 6th: Luzern (Switzerland)
July 7th: Zurich (Switzerland)
July 8th – 11th: International AR Gathering (Italy)

Followed by talks at:
July 15th – 19th Washington DC (AR Conference 2010)

Contact me privately for more details.

– Peter Young

“Skin Trade”: Fur Industry Documentary Premiers in LA

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LA premier of new film from Shannon Keith, director of Behind the Mask

The same week that saw the premier of the A.L.F.-themed narrative Bold Native, the director of the A.L.F. documentary Behind the Mask premiered her new fur industry expose: Skin Trade.

Several hundred people filled the Majestic Theater in Westwood, California for the public premier of the first feature-length film to expose the fur industry. Members of the media, activists, voices from the film, and the general public came out to see the much-anticipated follow-up to Behind the Mask. The film was followed by a talk from director Shannon Keith, and several people from the film giving perspectives on the fur industry and other animal issues.

Skin Trade brings together voices from the underground, celebrities, historians, native americans, activists, designers, and fashion icons; each addressing the horrors of the fur industry. Admirably not bowing to pressure to “mainstream” her film, Shannon Keith also dedicated a segment to the work of the Animal Liberation Front.

Skin Trade will have many screenings nationwide in the coming months. View upcoming screenings here, see the trailer here, and buy the DVD here.

– Peter Young

Bold Native Sells Out Los Angeles Premier

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First feature film with an A.L.F. storyline sells out its premier in Los Angeles.

Far from the farms and labs where the A.L.F. does its work, 400 people gathered in Los Angeles last week for the premier of Bold Native. I was fortunate enough to attend the screening which included speakers, and a Q & A with the filmmakers and cast. Hundreds of people left with copies of Bite Back Magazine, and perhaps a clearer understanding of the A.L.F.s motives – and the plight of non-human animals in general.

To capitalize on the energy created by the film, the filmmakers followed the screening with speakers addressing how people can get involved to help animals. Speakers included activists from Last Chance for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, Band of Mercy Los Angeles, and attorney Matthew Strugar on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Bold Native follows the protagonist Charlie Cranehill, an underground A.L.F. organizer, as he orchestrates a nationwide coordinated A.L.F. action with over 30 targets. The film generated significant buzz in anticipation of its release that only increased with the film’s debut and (current) west coast tour.

This week, the film has additional screenings in Portland (June 24th) and Seattle (June 29th).

That a film like Bold Native is being received by mainstream audiences is a testimony to the quality of the script, and to the falsehood of beliefs that many tactics of the A.L.F. do not enjoy broad-based support.

Bold Native will be making the rounds with screenings across the country in the coming months. Contact Bold Native to set up screenings in your area, and support this landmark film.

– Peter Young

A.L.F. Takes Credit for Fires at Two Animal Skin Dealers

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In one communique, the Animal Liberation Front takes credit for arsons at two animal skin dealers.

After mysterious fires broke out at two animal skin dealers across two states in two months, this week the Animal Liberation Front took credit. The text of the communique is as follows:

“The arson at the Sheepskin Factory in Denver was done in defense and retaliation for all the innocent animals that have died cruelly at the hands of human oppressors. Be warned that making a living from the use and abuse of animals will not be tolerated. Also be warned that leather is every bit as evil as fur. As demonstrated in my recent arson against the Leather Factory in Salt Lake City. Go vegan!

ALF Lone Wolf”

The first arson destroyed the Sheepskin Factory store in Denver the night of April 30th, 2010. Over 40 firefighters responded to the fire that destroyed the building. The business was uninsured.

The second fire damaged the Tandy Leather Factory store in Salt Lake City sometime in the days before June 5th, 2010. The store reportedly closed for several days (or more). A sign posted on the door after the fire read “closed for fire clean up”.

This is a rare case of the A.L.F. claiming responsibility for more than one action in a single communique.

Owners of the Sheepskin Factory suspected the Animal Liberation Front from the outset. The owner’s daughter stated:

“From the beginning that’s kind of our initial thoughts of who was responsible for this,”

Predictably, regressive elements of the animal rights / welfare movement in Denver were quick to condemn these arsons, pointing a finger at the Animal Liberation Front rather than animal abusers:

“I know hundreds of animal activists and I don’t know anybody who thinks setting a fire will do any good. Folks who own the building will get reimbursed by their insurance company and they’ll be up and running, in better working conditions than they had to start with. That’s not doing anything for animals that are suffering.” said “animal activist” Dan Hanley.

Hanley was apparently unaware the Skeepskin Factory arson he referred to targeted a building that was uninsured.

An employee of the Sheepskin Factory said this of business owners targeted by the A.L.F.:

You’ve got to keep on fighting.

These recent actions show the Animal Liberation Front will continue to do the same.

– Peter Young

Leather Factory Fire Ruled Arson

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Salt Lake City fire investigators rule arson in fire at the Tandy Leather Factory.

After a message board post broke the story of an arson at the Tandy Leather Factory store in Salt Lake City, fire investigators have ruled it arson.

The post stated someone broke in to the store, spread an accelerant up and down the aisles, and set the store on fire. The store sustained damages that reportedly closed the store for at least a few days. View pictures of the store post-arson here.

A Salt Lake City fire department spokesperson stated:

We don’t know who. We don’t know what the motive is — nothing left behind, or nothing sent to us since then that claims responsibility or claims a motive.

To date, no underground animal liberation group has claimed responsibility, and the motive for the fire remains unknown.

– Peter Young

Arson Attack Closes Utah Leather Store

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Mysterious break-in and arson reported at Tandy Leather Factory store in Salt Lake City

Sometime last week, the Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City was the target of an apparent arson attack. This mysterious, (so far) unclaimed arson comes just weeks after at a similar unclaimed arson at the Sheepskin Factory store in Denver. The arson appears to have at least temporarily shut down the store, located at 1107 South State Street in Salt Lake City. As of yet, neither the Animal Liberation Front nor other animal liberation group has taken credit.

According to a post on a gun-talk forum, an employee of another Tandy location stated that someone broke into the Salt Lake City store, spread an “accelerant”, and set the store on fire. The quote from the post:

I went to the Tandy store in West Valley, and the owner there said that someone had broken into the SLC store (his store was unharmed) and spread “an accelerant” up and down the aisles, especially over where they store their leather.

Local media have not yet picked up the story of the arson.

Local activists visited the location and confirmed the building was closed, boarded up, and had clearly sustained fire damage. A sign on the door read “Closed for fire clean up”.

The following are pictures taken of the burned building:

Sign reads: "closed for fire clean up"

This is the latest in a long line of actions at animal exploitation targets for which no claim of responsibility by activists is made. The true motive of this action can not be known, but a store selling the skins of animals would be a legitimate target for the A.L.F.

This is the second Tandy leather store to be targeted in an arson attack. In June 1995, the Animal Liberation Front set fire to the Tandy Leather in Murray, UT, causing $300,000 damages.

– Peter Young

More FBI Visits in California

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Following up on last week’s post, there is a report of a third person visited by the FBI in California. The FBI appears to be seeking information on an animal rights activists believed to be known by those visited.

In this latest incident, the person was an ex-vegan, and the FBI attempted to capitalize on this “revision of belief” by requesting this person speak to them. The person reportedly refused to talk. The FBI stated in this interview attempt that they were aware this person was no longer vegan.

It is clear the FBI is attempting to exploit weaknesses and conflicts in our movement to gather intelligence which will aid them in their goal of imprisoning the A.L.F., and other facets of our movement they deem a threat. It should be expected the three reports received so far are only the tip of the iceberg, and that many more activists or former activists have been contacted.

Be vigilant, and know why it is never OK to speak to the FBI.

– Peter Young

FBI Making the Rounds in California

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Information is still coming in, but today the FBI visited at least two individuals in California apparently seeking information on another activist.  The FBI reportedly left a business card on the doorstep of one person, and contacted the parents of a second. The person the FBI is apparently seeking information on has been a recent and visible FBI target in connection with an out-of-state Animal Liberation Front action.  More information will be posted as it is available and cleared to make public.

It is important to make news of FBI visits immediately public and bring a spotlight on FBI intrusion into our movement.

More info to come.

– Peter Young