A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted four individuals associated with an anti-capitalist and anti-government group for allegedly planning to carry out bombings in Southern California on New Year’s Eve. The indictment includes terrorism-related charges.
The defendants, identified as Audrey Illeene Carroll (also known as “Asiginaak” and “Black Moon”), Zachary Aaron Page (also known as “AK,” “Ash Kerrigan,” and “Cthulu’s Daughter”), Dante James Anthony-Gaffield (“Nomad”), and Tina Lai (“Kickwhere”), face charges of providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, as well as possession of unregistered firearms. Carroll and Page are also charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction.
All four are currently held without bond. Their arraignments are scheduled between January 2 and January 20, 2026, at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli commented on the case: “The charges a federal grand jury returned today reflect the seriousness of the conduct: a planned terrorist attack on American soil on New Year’s Eve. If convicted, this group of self-professed left-wing radicals will face decades in federal prison. We will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all terror groups and bring them to justice.”
According to the indictment, the accused are members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) and participated in a faction that used an encrypted messaging group called “Order of the Black Lotus.” In November 2025, Carroll reportedly wrote an eight-page document titled “Operation Midnight Sun,” outlining plans for attacks against U.S. businesses across Southern California.
The plan included information about targets, bomb-making instructions, sourcing materials, and methods for avoiding detection. The intended targets were technology and logistics companies in the region. Carroll is alleged to have recruited Page, Gaffield, and Lai for participation in these attacks.
On November 29, 2025, Page sent a message through an encrypted app stating: “death to israel death to the usa death to colonizers death to settler-coloniasm [sic].” Carroll replied: “Death to them all, burn it all down [three emojis of a burning heart].”
In early December 2025, the group obtained materials such as potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal, and pipes for constructing explosive devices. They tested these devices in the Mojave Desert on December 12 but were arrested by FBI agents before they could complete functional bombs.
Carroll and Page also discussed targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after New Year’s Eve using firearms and pipe bombs.
If convicted on all counts, Carroll and Page could receive up to life imprisonment; Gaffield and Lai face up to 25 years each.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation with support from local law enforcement agencies including those from Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Palm Springs Police Department, as well as FBI field offices in Boston, Buffalo, and New Orleans.
Prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello and Amanda B. Elbogen from the National Security Division; Daniel H. Weiner from the Transnational Organized Crime Section; with assistance from Justice Department Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California serves more than 19 million residents across seven counties through its main office in Los Angeles along with branches in Santa Ana and Riverside (official website). The office enforces federal laws via criminal prosecutions such as this case (official website), works closely with law enforcement partners (official website), provides community outreach programs focused on victim assistance (official website), handles civil matters for government interests (official website), operates divisions focused on various legal functions (official website), and is led by E. Martin Estrada (official website).
An indictment is not evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
