Irvine Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Firebombing Planned Parenthood Clinic

Irvine Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Firebombing Planned Parenthood Clinic

SANTA ANA, California – In a brazen act of violence, 22-year-old Tibet Ergul of Irvine was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa and plotting to attack an electrical substation in Orange.

Ergul, who pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, will also have to pay $1,000 in restitution. His accomplice, 24-year-old Chance Brannon, was not named in the report.

“This defendant’s hatred toward others led him to plotting and carrying out violence,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We will not allow bigoted intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by hate in order to keep our community safe.”

According to the authorities, Ergul and Brannon agreed to use a Molotov cocktail to damage a Planned Parenthood clinic in Orange County in February and March 2022. They targeted the clinic because it provided reproductive health services and wanted to encourage others to engage in similar violent acts.

On March 13, 2022, Ergul and Brannon, disguised in dark clothing, masks, hoods, and gloves, drove to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, ignited the Molotov cocktail, and threw it at the clinic’s entrance, intentionally starting a fire. The fire and resulting damage forced the clinic to temporarily close and reschedule approximately 30 patient appointments.

Ergul further admitted in his plea agreement that in June 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he and Brannon planned to use a second Molotov cocktail to attack another Planned Parenthood clinic. They abandoned this plan after seeing law enforcement near the targeted clinic.

Ergul also conspired with others to damage a Southern California Edison electrical substation to debilitate Orange County’s power grid. Ergul and his accomplices planned to attack the substation by using firearms or a Molotov cocktail that Ergul possessed in his garage. Ergul and Brannon consulted with an associate about surveillance, drone operations, and firearms.

The FBI and its partners on the JTTF will continue to seek out violent extremists before they strike and ask anyone with information about potential attacks to contact them immediately. The NCIS, along with its partners, remain committed to deter domestic terrorism against our fellow Americans.