Alleged “Eco-terrorist” Accused of Attacking Ski Lodges Surrenders to FBI
Benjamin T. Lambright 12.03.12
Canadian Rebecca Jeanette Rubin, 39, is accused of being one of the worst eco-terrorists in United States history.
On November 29, she surrendered to the FBI at the Canada-Washington border and Rubin is now being held in Washington. Rubin will eventually be moved to Oregon where she will stand trail for federal arson, using a destructive device, and conspiracy charges, stemming from crimes allegedly committed in Oregon, Colorado, and California.
According to the FBI, Rubin is charged with participating in a number of arson cases including:
- November 30, 1997, U.S. Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Facility (Oregon)
- October 19, 1998, Eight counts of arson stemming from a string of attacks that destroyed Two Elk Lodge, and several other Vail ski area buildings (Colorado)
- October 15, 2001, BLM Litchfield Wild Horse and Burro Corals (California)
- December 22, 1998, Attempted arson at U.S. Forest Industries, Inc. (Oregon)
Rubin was part of group calling themselves “The Family”, which had 13 members and was closely affiliated with the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). The group’s attacks on ski resorts, wild horse conservation facilities, and other targets were done, according to a grand jury indictment, in an attempt to “influence and affect the conduct of government, private business and the civilian population through force, violence, sabotage, mass destruction, intimidation, and coercion, and to retaliate against government and private businesses by similar means.”
Ten of The Family’s members have already stood trial for the above crimes and been convicted. Rubin is slated to become the 11th.
While each count of arson and attempted arson carries mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison (up to 20 years per count), the “use of a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence” carries a mandatory sentence of 30 years,and the conspiracy charge a maximum of five years, the other members of Rubin’s “family” have received sentences ranging from six years to as little of as 37 months.
