It also levels five counts of criminal forfeiture against each defendant. If convicted of the offenses, they would have to forfeit property obtained from the proceeds of their crimes, totaling at least $3 million, including cattle at the so called Bunkerville Allotment and Lake Mead National Recreational Area in Nevada. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden in a prepared statement. "Persons who use force and violence against federal law enforcement officers who are enforcing court orders and nearly causing catastrophic loss of life or injury to others, will be brought to justice.''
The elder Bundy, 69, of Bunkerville, Nevada, his sons, Ammon E. Bundy, 40, of Emmet, Idaho, and Ryan C. Bundy, 43, of Mesquite, Nevada, as well as Ryan W. Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Montana, and Peter T. Santilli, Jr., 50, of Cincinnati, remain in custody in Portland.
"This indictment sends a resounding message to those who wish to participate in violent acts that our resolve to pursue them and enforce the law remains unwavering," said Nevada's FBI Special Agent in Charge Laura Bucheit.
More Reading The 51 page federal indictment
The indictment stems from what federal officials have described as the "massive armed assault'' by Cliven Bundy and his co defendants against federal law enforcement officers who tried to corral about 400 cattle near the Bundy Ranch.
They're accused of planning, organizing and leading the 2014 assault and recruiting hundreds of others in an armed force to thwart the seizure and removal of Cliven Bundy's cattle from public lands.iphone 5 replacement screen Bureau of Land Management to keep and graze his cattle on the land.
"Today marks a tremendous step toward ending more than 20 years of law breaking," said Neil Kornze, director of the Bureau of Land Management. "The nation's public lands belong to all Americans."
Cliven Bundy was arrested after he arrived in Portland on Feb. 10 to visit his two jailed sons, who were indicted in the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Ammon Bundy led the takeover, which began Jan. 2 and lasted 41 days. He said he and his followers were demonstrating against the return to prison of Harney County ranchers Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Steve Hammond, and the federal government's control of public land.
The indictment identifies Cliven Bundy as the "leader, organizer and chief beneficiary" of the conspiracy. Ammon and Ryan Bundy are accused of recruiting followers, interfering with the federal effort to impound the Bundy cattle, threatening and using force against federal officers and trying to extort BLM contractors.
"It's what we anticipated,'' said Ammon Bundy's lawyer, Mike Arnold. A federal complaint issued last week against Cliven Bundy had referenced four unnamed co conspirators in the Nevada case. Arnold declined comment on the substance of the charges, saying he hadn't seen the formal indictment yet.
"It's important for the public to remember that there is a constitutional presumption of innocence in America,'' Arnold said in an email. "A government charge is proof of nothing. That's what courts and trials are for.''
Payne is accused of organizing armed "protection'' for the alleged conspirators in Nevada, and Santilli, an independent broadcaster, is accused of recruiting followers using the Internet.
According to the indictment, Santilli tried to "incite listeners'' to travel to the Bundy Ranch for unlawful purposes. Attorney's Office in Nevada, the maximum penalties for the Nevada based charges range from five years to 20 years, with $250,000 in fines for each charge.
Cliven Bundy is expected to be returned to Nevada to face federal prosecution there. The defendants in the Oregon refuge takeover case are likely to be prosecuted here before facing federal prosecution in Nevada.
