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California Man Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice
San Francisco, California – In a shocking turn of events, Jessie Rush, 29, of Turlock, California, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice in connection with the murder of a federal Protective Security Officer (PSO) and the shooting of a second PSO on May 29, 2020, at the Oakland federal building.
According to the plea agreement, Rush, along with three other members of the ‘Grizzly Scouts’ militia group, destroyed records connected to the investigation in an attempt to cover their tracks. The group, connected to the ‘boogaloo’ movement, had been under investigation for their alleged involvement in the murder and shooting.
The ‘boogaloo’ movement is a loose concept used as a rallying point for some extremists, with some militia groups using the term to reference a purportedly impending politically-motivated civil war or uprising against the government.
Rush, who assumed the rank of ‘Major’ in the group, admitted to destroying records associated with the WhatsApp ‘209 Goon HQ’ group, including communications with the alleged killer. He also instructed the killer to delete data on his phone and get out of there.
The other members of the group, Robert Blancas, Simon Ybarra, and Kenny Miksch, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the obstruction of justice conspiracy. Blancas, Ybarra, and Miksch each admitted to their respective roles in the group, with Blancas assuming the rank of ‘1st Lieutenant’ and Ybarra receiving the rank of ‘Corporal’.
Rush, who is set to be sentenced, faces up to 5 years in prison for his role in the obstruction of justice conspiracy. The other members of the group face similar sentences, with Blancas, Ybarra, and Miksch set to be sentenced in the coming weeks.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of extremist groups and the importance of working together to keep our communities safe.
Source: Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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