LOS ANGELES – A Riverside County man who drove to a federal facility in downtown Los Angeles and tried to enter with three firearms was charged late this afternoon with a federal firearms offense.
A federal prison grievance filed this afternoon fees Erik Christopher Younggren, 34, of Cherry Valley, with tried possession of firearms and harmful weapons in a federal facility, a misdemeanor offense that carries a sentence of as much as one yr in federal jail.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Protecting Service (FPS), Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Division and the FBI. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives supplied substantial help.
Younggren, who at the moment is being held in federal custody, is anticipated to make his preliminary court docket look Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court docket.
The grievance alleges that Younggren tried to enter the worker parking zone underneath the Edward R. Roybal Federal Constructing and U.S. Courthouse Wednesday morning at roughly 9:30 a.m. When stopped by safety on the entrance to the parking facility, Younggren initially said that he was “a witness” who wanted to enter the power. When the safety officer requested if he was armed, Younggren admitted to being in possession of a handgun and two rifles, in response to the grievance. HSI particular brokers noticed the incident and responded to assist take Younggren into custody.
A subsequent search of his automobile by HSI particular brokers and FPS officers led to the invention of two rifles, a .45-caliber semi-automatic firearm and roughly 565 rounds of ammunition. When he was detained by authorities, Younggren was carrying physique armor with loaded magazines and knives connected, the grievance alleges.
Throughout an interview with HSI, FPS, and FBI particular brokers, Younggren mentioned he went to the Roybal constructing as a result of he wanted “safety…[and he] defined that he was purportedly a confidential informant assigned to a confidential federal job power,” in response to the grievance.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Legal professional for the Central District of California’s Normal Crimes Part.
HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these prison organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure via which worldwide commerce, journey and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 workers consists of greater than 7,100 Particular Brokers assigned to 220 cities all through the USA, and 80 abroad areas in 53 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative legislation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. legislation enforcement.