LOS ANGELES
A Santa Fe Springs man has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for reporting eight online tips to the United States military facilities falsely claiming that certain women were about to perpetrate mass-casualty attacks.
Daniel Sandoval, 29, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson.
Sandoval pleaded guilty on February 12 to one count of false information and hoaxes.
According to his plea agreement, on March 21, 2021, Sandoval knowingly provided an online tip to the reporting system that falsely stated that a woman – identified in court documents as “S.C.” – was planning to detonate bombs in a “mass attack” at a U.S. Navy weapons facility located in Seal Beach.
During the following two days, Sandoval made seven more online tips to the U.S. military facilities, falsely identifying additional women who purportedly posed threats. For example, on March 22, 2021, Sandoval provided an online tip to the U.S. military facilities that falsely stated a woman – identified in court documents as “S.H.” – and others planned to detonate bombs at a U.S. military hospital located in Bell Gardens.
On March 23, 2021, Sandoval provided a false online tip to the U.S. military facilities that falsely stated a woman – identified in court documents as “L.E.” – and others were planning to bomb and conduct a mass shooting at a U.S. Army Reserve Center in South El Monte.
Sandoval admitted in his plea agreement that his conduct substantially disrupted public and government functions and services, including the evacuation of personnel from a Navy building due to the false tip.
“[Sandoval’s] unlawful conduct harmed not only the U.S. military facilities he targeted and the personnel living or working on those bases, but also harmed the innocent women who he claimed were perpetrating these dangerous threats,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
The FBI’s Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted the investigation in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander H. Tran of the General Crimes Section and James A. Santiago of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, prosecuted this case.
Mandatory Facts:
1. Defendant/respondent REAL full name or legal entity name: Daniel Sandoval.
2. Exact criminal charges: False information and hoaxes.
3. City and state: Santa Fe Springs, California.
4. EXACT DATE with month/day/year: March 21, 2021.
5. Sentence or outcome: 12 months and one day in federal prison.
6. Dollar amounts: Not applicable.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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