LOS ANGELES
The leaders of federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined together to create the Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force to investigate and prosecute fire-related crimes as Los Angeles County recovers from devastating wildfires.
The Task Force will focus on investigating and prosecuting criminal actors seeking to exploit the wildfire crisis.
Members of the Task Force will meet to discuss case leads, develop and share crime intelligence, and facilitate the efficient prosecution of crimes related to the Los Angeles County wildfires.
The Task Force will primarily focus on four areas: looting, burglary and impersonation offenses; crimes related to arson; illegal drone activity; and financial fraud targeting both disaster victims and those wishing to make charitable donations.
“We will not permit victims to be re-victimized,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our community has suffered tremendously, and we are here to support them. The Joint Fire Crimes Task Force is committed to addressing crimes coming out of the fires, including any looting, arson, illegal drone flights and fraud. As the rebuilding process begins and donations and relief funds come in, we must ensure that those seeking to take advantage through criminal activity are held fully accountable.”
The Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force will aggressively pursue offenders in the following categories:
Looting, Burglary, Curfew Violations and Impersonation
The Task Force and partner agencies are investigating any looting, burglary, robbery, grand theft, impersonation of firefighters or law enforcement, curfew violations, and related crimes stemming from the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, and other wildfires. To date more than 50 individuals have been arrested, and nine defendants have been charged and face maximum sentences ranging from six years to life in prison.
Arson
Members of the Task Force and fire authorities are investigating the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire and the other wildfires that started over the past week. At the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF Los Angeles and the LAPD, ATF deployed its renowned National Response Team to the Palisades fire to investigate. These specialized investigators are working around the clock to determine the origins of these fires.
In addition, as wind events and dry conditions continue to leave the region vulnerable to wildfires, the Task Force will aggressively prosecute anyone who attempts to cause new fires by malice or reckless behavior. The federal arson statute carries a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Those penalties can increase to life sentence if a death has occurred. Under California law, arson carries a prison sentence of up to nine years.
Illegal Drones
Fire personnel must be able to perform their duties without interference. Illegal drone activity in active fire zones has disrupted operations, including one instance where a drone collided with a fire suppression plane.
The areas around the Palisades and Eaton fires are under temporary flight restrictions through January 25, and it is a crime to fly a drone in these areas. The FBI has deployed equipment to detect drones flying in these restricted areas. The federal offense of flying a drone in ones of these restricted airspaces carries a penalty of up to one year in federal prison and a fine of up to $75,000.
Fraud
The Task Force will not allow fire victims to be re-victimized by fraud and theft. Its efforts focus on ensuring that relief funds reach those in need and working to swiftly prosecutor those engaged in defrauding donors.
Generous people around the world are making donators to assist victims.
Unfortunately, this creates opportunities for scams as criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent solicitations or creating deceiving websites. Potential donors are urged to make donations only to known entities and to avoid giving donations in cash or via wire transfer.
The Task Force will also investigator the misuse of aid programs administered by government agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Federal agencies are deploying significant financial resources to support homeowners, renters, nonprofits and businesses affected by the fires, and any attempt to misuse these funds through fraud or identity theft will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted.
There are numerous other potential scams that might victimize victims such as contractor fraud. The Task Force will target any individual seeking to defraud victims of the wildfires.
Price-gouging laws went into effect immediately upon the declaration of a state of emergency.
No person and no business can increase pricing on housing, shelter, food, water, clothing, pet care, health care or any other essential goods or services by more than 10% without violating the law. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is leading Task Force efforts in this area.
Violations of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution for up to one year in prison, plus a fine of up to $10,000. They are also subject to civil enforcement actions to include civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief and mandatory restitution.
Members of the Task Force remain committed to seeing that victims of these devastating fires receive justice and that those who exploit or harm them are held accountable.
Members of the public are encouraged to report wrongdoing to authorities at any law enforcement agency. For example, tips may be directed to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or www.tips.fbi.gov. The public may also report examples of financial fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721 or www.justice.gov/DisasterComplainForm.