Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
Casey Robert Goonan was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for a series of arsons and firebombings at the University of California, Berkeley and the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland during June 2024. The sentence was issued by Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.
Goonan, 35, who is from Oakland and Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive.
Court documents show that on June 1, 2024, Goonan placed a bag containing six Molotov cocktails under the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department patrol car near the UC Berkeley campus. He lit the bag on fire and left the scene, causing the patrol car to catch fire.
On June 11, 2024, Goonan attempted to attack the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland with three Molotov cocktails. After throwing rocks at the building in an attempt to break a window so he could throw lit devices inside, his plan was interrupted by protective services officers. He fled and set fire to Molotov cocktails placed in a planter outside.
Goonan also set additional fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16, 2024.
He admitted that his actions were inspired by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and said he encouraged others to attack property at Bay Area college campuses in support of Palestine. Goonan stated that his conduct aimed to influence government actions through intimidation and coercion as retaliation against both the United States and California governments.
“Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America. We are all free to think what we want and express those views peacefully, but the use of violence to achieve political aims—or to silence those with whom you may disagree—has no place in our community and our country,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Anyone who crosses the line between peaceful protest and violence will be met with the full force of the law.”
“Safeguarding our communities from violence remains at the forefront of the FBI’s mission. While free speech and peaceful protest are protected rights, turning to firebombs and arson crosses into criminal conduct that endangers lives and threatens public safety,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to harm our communities.”
The court described Goonan as a “domestic terrorist” during sentencing proceedings.
In addition to prison time, Judge White ordered Goonan serve fifteen years supervised release after leaving custody; restitution totaling $94,267.51; as well as a $100 special assessment fee. Goonan has been detained since his arrest on state charges on June 17, 2024.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikhil Bhagat prosecuted this case with help from Tina Rosenbaum following an investigation led by agencies including FBI, ATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives), California Office of State Fire Marshal, and University of California Police Department.
