Accused Eco-Terrorist Justin Samuel Pleads Guilty

PLUS: Neighborhood Watch: Incidents relating to the charges against Justin Clayton Samuel and Peter Daniel Young

SEE ALSO: Guilty Pleas Entered in Nation's First Prosecution of Animal Rights Terrorism for Mink Farm Releases U.S. Attorney, Western District of Wisconsin press release, Sept. 1, 2000.

MADISON, WISCONSIN: Accused eco-terrorist Justin Clayton Samuel admitted guilt for a crime spree against Wisconsin farms in 1997 and entered a guilty plea to two misdemeanor offenses on August 30 in federal district court. Under the plea agreement, Samuel was convicted of conspiracy to disrupt an animal enterprise and traveling in interstate commerce to disrupt an animal enterprise, both misdemeanors under the Animal Enterprise Protection Act. Felony charges of interfering with commerce will be dismissed at sentencing in exchange for Samuel's grand jury testimony.(1)

Samuel, 21, of Washington State, admitted that he and accomplice Peter Daniel Young cut fences, stole and abandoned mink from a series of farms in October 1997. FBI tests concluded a bolt cutter, found in a car used by the two men, had been used to cut wire fences and cages at the farms.

Samuel faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison at a Nov. 3 hearing and restitution to the mink ranchers. Samuel was indicted on September 22, 1998 and was a fugitive until he was arrested in Belgium in September of 1999, then extradited to the U.S. in June of 2000.

The original charges against Samuel included attacks on five farms in three states, attacks which resulted in damages estimated at $1.3 million.

Local fur farmer, Tom Olson, whose farm suffered $200,000 in damages in an attack in 1997, registered relief that the investigation and prosecution stage was over. However Olson said the farmers will continue to push for further investigation, prosecution and financial damages. "America was built on tolerance and respect for diversity and we have avoided fistfights and trashing property as unacceptable tactics." Olson remains adamant about the importance of restitution for the farms. " The injured farmers were victims of a crime spree by Justin Samuel and his accomplices," stated Olson. "Hard-working farming families suffered emotional and financial losses which will take them years to recover. The farmers should be compensated for their damages by those responsible for the crimes."

Dan Poulson, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, agreed. "The public doesn't realize the threats farmers face to their animals and to their families from these terrorists," stated Poulson. "We need everyone's assistance to stop these criminals."

Resource providers nationwide are suffering at the hands of urban-based criminals who attack them simply for having livelihoods based on animals or other natural resources.

Ron Arnold, author of Eco Terror: The Violent Agenda to Save Nature, says, "This case shows America that ecoterrorists are not just a harmless fringe element. Law enforcement and the courts have been too soft on ecoterror crime for years. These young thugs should get the maximum penalty the law allows."

Gincy Beck, a Washington state fur farmer and president of FCUSA, commented, "Most of the American public got their first real glimpse of ecoterrorism last winter at the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, but small family farmers have been dealing with these criminals for years. We're hopeful that this guilty plea will result in justice being served, and full financial restitution for the farmers who suffered."

"We are strong supporters of free speech, but illegal actions have no place in the public debate," stated Teresa Platt, executive director of FCUSA, which represents over 600 fur farmers in 31 states. "We condemn unequivocally the use of violence, intimidation and terrorist activities, and leaders in the animal welfare movement should join us in our condemnation."

Ecoterrorists, who believe in the "liberation" of Earth and animals from man, are generally vegans and wear clothes made from plants or synthetics. "Since less than 3% of the planet can support crops, and the petrochemical industry - which supplies the raw materials for synthetics - is not the most environment-friendly, it is only natural that animals should be an important source of human food and clothing," continued Platt. "Our obligation as a society is to ensure that the animals we depend on are treated humanely and sustainably."

CONTACTS:

Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698; (619) 575-0139; (619) 272-2467/fax; furfarmers@aol.com; www.furcommission.com

Tom Thieding, Executive Director, Communications, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, PO Box 5550, Madison, WI 53705-0550; (608) 828-5709, (608) 828-5769/fax; tthieding@wfbf.com; www.wfbf.com

Ron Arnold, Bellevue, Washington; (425) 454-9470; rarnold@eskimo.com; www.cdfe.org

NOTES AND LINKS:

(1) "Washington state man admits releasing hundreds of minks by cutting fences," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 31, 2000.

2) Gina Lynn Issues Plea for Defense Funds FCUSA advisory notice, July 12, 2000 (Note: This is in the password-protected Members section of the FCUSA website.)

3) Grand Jury Indicts Two for "Ecoterror" Crime Spree FCUSA press release, Sept. 22, 1998.

SEE ALSO:

Animal Extremist / Ecoterror Crimes A chronological list of major ecoterror crimes from 1996 to the present.

Engaging Political Will FCUSA commentary, Mar. 4, 1999, on the new emphasis placed by the FBI on combatting ecoterrorism.

Safe Farms Support Campaign FCUSA Press Kit special feature.

Neighborhood Watch
Incidents relating to the charges against Justin Clayton Samuel and Peter Daniel Young

August 30, 2000

In an effort to stop criminal activities against resource providers, this report is generated by the 31-state "Neighborhood Watch" program of U.S. fur farmers. This is an incomplete version of our List of Incidents Report. Updates are available upon request.

Around the country, concerned citizens are working to stop eco and animal rights terrorism. See the "Request for Action by the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Congress of the United States" at www.naiaonline.org/rfa9810a.html or contact Teresa Platt, executive director, Fur Commission USA.

Background on August 2000 Justin Clayton Samuel case:

September 22, 1998
Samuel and Young Indicted
A federal grand jury indict Justin Samuel and Peter Young (still at large) with animal enterprise terrorism and unlawful interference with interstate commerce. The indictment alleged that in October 1997, Young and Samuel attacked mink and fox farms with the intent to cause significant economic damage to the fur farming families. In addition, the indictment alleged overt acts in three states (South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin) as part of a conspiracy to engage in extortion by attempting to coerce the farmers to close their businesses rather than face the threat of further economic losses as a result of their attacks.

October 16, 1997
Watertown, South Dakota, Break In and Theft of Animals
Turbak Mink Farm, vandals cut the fence in 10 spots, 2500 animals stolen and abandoned, recovered all but 600. Loss $200,000. ALF admitted guilt.

October 17, 1997
Sioux City, Iowa, Break In and Theft of Animals
Steven Krage's Circle K Fur Farm, vandals cut fence, 4,500 mink, 100 foxes (all recovered) stolen and abandoned, 1300 mink not recovered. ALF admitted guilt. Loss $300,000.

October 24, 1997
Early a.m., Independence, Wisconsin, Break In and Theft of Animals
Tom and Jan Olson's Fur Farm, trespassers cut a fence, 800 mink stolen and abandoned, less than 100 not recovered. Loss $200,000.

October 25, 1997
Early a.m., Medford, Wisconsin, Break In and Theft of Animals
Jack L. Dittrich's Minkery was invaded and 3,000 animals stolen and abandoned, less than 100 not recovered. ALF admitted guilt. Loss $500,000. .

October 25, 1997
Early a.m., Tomahawk, Wisconsin, Break In and Theft of Animals
Midnight trespass and release of 301 animals from one shed at Alex Ott's Fur Farm, farmer scared them off. Farmer recovered all but 43. ALF admitted guilt. Loss $99,400.

Five farms, three States, total losses: $1.3 million.

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 272-2467/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com. See also Teresa's blog and Facebook.

To take a cyber-tour of a fur farm, visit FCUSA's Fur on Film.

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