DELTA, Utah, March 3, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The United States Justice Department on Thursday announced 14 additional indictments related to the 2014 standoff over grazing cattle on U.S. land near Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch.
Arrested in Utah was David H. Bundy, 39, son of Cliven Bundy. David Bundy was arrested in Delta, where he was reportedly working on a house he was building. Another of Cliven Bundy’s sons, Melvin, 41, of Round Mountain, Nevada, was arrested in Nevada.
“Our democracy provides lawful ways individuals can respond if they disagree with their government, but if you resort to violence or threats, you will be held accountable under the law,” FBI Director James B. Comey said in a prepared statement.
Besides David and Melvin Bundy, the new defendants are Brian D. Cavalier, 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada; Blaine Cooper, 36, of Humboldt, Arizona; Gerald A. DeLemus, 61, of Rochester, New Hampshire; Eric J. Parker, 32, of Hailey, Idaho; O. Scott Drexler, 44, of Challis, Idaho; Richard R. Lovelien, 52, of Westville, Oklahoma; Steven A. Stewart, 36, of Hailey; Todd C. Engel, 48, of Boundary County, Idaho; Gregory P. Burleson, 52, of Phoenix; Joseph D. O’Shaughnessy, 43, of Cottonwood, Arizona; and Micah L. McGuire, 31, and Jason D. Woods, 30, both of Chandler, Arizona.
Two defendants, Cavalier and Cooper, were already in federal custody in Oregon.
The newly-added defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, and at least one count of using and carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, assault on a federal officer, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, obstruction of the due administration of justice, interference with interstate commerce by extortion and interstate travel in aid of extortion.
The indictment also alleges five counts of criminal forfeiture which upon conviction would require forfeiture of property derived from the proceeds of the crimes totaling at least $3 million, as well as the firearms and ammunition possessed and used on April 12, 2014.
Charges against the original five defendants, Cliven D. Bundy, 69, of Bunkerville; his son, Ryan C. Bundy, 43, of Mesquite, Nevada; son Ammon E. Bundy, 40, of Emmet, Idaho; Ryan W. Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Montana; and Peter T. Santilli Jr., 50, of Cincinnati, remain the same.
The superseding indictment alleges that the charges result from a massive armed assault against federal law enforcement officers that occurred in and near Bunkerville on April 12, 2014.
“The defendants are alleged to have planned, organized and led the assault in order to extort the officers into abandoning approximately 400 head of cattle that were in their lawful care and custody,” a Department of Justice statement said.
“In addition to conspiring among themselves to plan and execute these crimes, the defendants recruited, organized and led hundreds of other followers in using armed force against law enforcement officers in order to thwart the seizure and removal of Cliven Bundy’s cattle from federal public lands.
“Bundy had trespassed on the public lands for over 20 years, refusing to obtain the legally-required permits or pay the required fees to keep and graze his cattle on the land.”
