A new task force focused on fighting crimes related to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires was announced Thursday as residents work to recover and rebuild.
The Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies that will investigate fire-related crimes and prosecute those seeking to exploit the wildfire crisis, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The task force will focus on four areas:
- Looting, burglary and impersonation offenses
- Crimes related to arson
- Illegal drone activity
- Financial fraud targeting disaster victims and those looking to make charitable donations
More than 50 people have been arrested for looting or theft-related crimes in connection with the wildfires. So far, nine people have been charged and they could face anywhere from six years to life in prison.
Regarding arson, officials said 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 minimum prison sentence and a maximum of 20 years. Those penalties can increase to a life sentence if a death has occurred. Under California law, arson carries a prison sentence of up to nine years.
“Illegal drone activity in active fire zones has disrupted operations, including one instance where a drone collided with a fire suppression plane,” officials said.
Temporary flight restrictions remain in the areas around the Palisades and Eaton fires through Jan. 25. The FBI has deployed equipment to detect drones flying in restricted areas. Violators could face up to a year in prison and be fined up to $75,000.
The Task Force will also focus on suspects attempting to scam or prey on fire victims or those looking to donate to recovery efforts.
“Generous people around the world are making donations to assist victims,” federal officials said. “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.”
Price-gouging laws also went into effect, stating that no person or business can increase pricing on housing, shelter, food, water, clothing, pet care, health care or other essential goods or services by more than 10%.
Violators of the price gouging statute could face up to one year in prison and be fined up to $10,000. They are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief and mandatory restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The task force is comprised of several agencies including:
- United States Attorney’s Office
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
- Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office
“In addition to our efforts to combat fraud, we will devote resources to the task force to investigate allegations of arson, and we will not tolerate careless and criminal drone operators who put firefighters and residents in harm’s way,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s L.A. Field Office.
L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office “will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who despicably seek to exploit this tragedy for personal gain. We want to send a clear and unequivocal message to criminals: If you seek to commit crime during this crisis, from arson, looting, burglary and theft to price gouging and financial scams, we will arrest you, prosecute you, and seek to punish you to the full extent of the law.”
The public is encouraged to report any wildfire-related crimes to their local law enforcement agencies. Tips can also be submitted to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov/home.
Cases of financial fraud can be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or online at justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
A new task force focused on fighting crimes related to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires was announced Thursday as residents work to recover and rebuild. The Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies that will investigate fire-related crimes and prosecute those seeking to exploit the wildfire crisis, […]
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