Man Sentenced to Prison for Falsely Reporting Terrorist Attacks on Southern California Military Bases
Background
Daniel Sandoval, a 29-year-old resident of Santa Fe Springs, California, has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for falsely reporting terrorist attacks targeting Southern California military bases.
False Reporting
Sandoval pleaded guilty in February to one count of false information and hoaxes after submitting eight tips to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) between March 21 and 23, 2021. Each tip falsely claimed that a woman was planning a mass-casualty attack at various U.S. military facilities in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Details of the False Tips
The false tips were submitted online and identified several women who allegedly planned large-scale attacks at sites such as the U.S. Navy weapons facility in Seal Beach and a military hospital in Bell Gardens. For example, Sandoval’s first tip claimed that a woman identified only as "S.C." in court documents was planning to "blow up military vehicles stationed [at the Seal Beach site] and civilian personnel vehicles."
Consequences of the False Reporting
Sandoval’s actions "substantially disrupted public and government functions and services," including forcing evacuations. In his plea agreement, Sandoval admitted to disrupting the lives of those living and working on the targeted military bases, as well as the innocent women he falsely accused of planning the attacks.
Sentencing
U.S. prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum that Sandoval’s "unlawful conduct harmed not only the military bases he targeted and the personnel living or working on those bases, but also harmed the innocent women he claimed were perpetrating these dangerous threats."
Conclusion
Sandoval’s actions have had severe consequences, including the disruption of public and government services, as well as the harm caused to innocent individuals. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information and the serious consequences of spreading false information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was Daniel Sandoval’s punishment for falsely reporting terrorist attacks?
A: Sandoval was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.
Q: How many false tips did Sandoval submit to the U.S. Department of Defense?
A: Sandoval submitted eight false tips between March 21 and 23, 2021.
Q: What were the details of the false tips?
A: The false tips claimed that women were planning mass-casualty attacks at various U.S. military facilities in Los Angeles and Orange counties, including the U.S. Navy weapons facility in Seal Beach and a military hospital in Bell Gardens.
Q: What were the consequences of Sandoval’s actions?
A: Sandoval’s actions "substantially disrupted public and government functions and services," including forcing evacuations, and caused harm to innocent individuals.
