Tom Shepstone
Natural Gas NOW   

Ruby Montoya and Jessica Reznicek have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for Dakota Access Pipeline vandalism. It’s about time the Fed gloves came off.

Two years ago I wrote about these two Dakota Access Pipeline vandals, noting they were stooges for a radical group known as Rising Tide North America, which was funded by the Levinson Foundation and the Tides Foundation. I later pointed out the largest single funder of the Tides Foundation was another foundation created by Warren Buffett’s family. Buffett, of course, is a railroad magnate who has been shipping Bakken oil by train, so fighting pipelines is very much in his economic interests. He is an enabler of these Dakota Access Pipeline vandals, who it appears, could really face some time in prison for their exploits on his behalf.

Will Dakota Access Pipeline vandals Montoya and Reznicek be found guilty and actually do jail time? We can’t know until there is a trial or guilty plea in advance of one. They are presumed innocent until then, of course. It’s also possible yet another weak or biased Federal judge will throw out the case as has happened too many times in the past. What’s interesting this time, though, is that these Dakota Access Pipeline vandals have tended to brag about their activities and a U.S. Attorney has secured a Federal grand jury indictment against them that lays out a pretty strong case.

U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum issued a news release summarizing the indictment but I’d like to focus on the original document, which may be found here. The following are the key excerpts (emphasis added):

From a date unknown, but by at least as early as November 8, 2016, and continuing until May 2, 2017, in the Southern District of Iowa and elsewhere, the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, willfully and knowingly conspired and agreed, with each other and with other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to knowingly and willfully damage and attempt to damage the property of an energy facility involved in the transmission and distribution of fuel, or another form or source of energy, in an amount exceeding or which would have exceeded $100,000, and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of a function of an energy facility…

On or about March 13, 2017, in and about Mahaska County in the Southern District of Iowa, the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK , also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, knowingly used fire, namely an oxy-acetylene cutting torch, to Conspire to Damage, Damage, and Attempt to Damage an Energy Facility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1366(a), a felony prosecutable in a court of the United States…

On or about March 13, 2017, in and about Mahaska County in the Southern District of Iowa , the defendant s, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lan e Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, maliciously damaged and destroyed by means of fire, personal property used in interstate commerce, namely Valve Site 430 of the Dakota Access Pipeline owned by Energy Transfer Partners…

On or about March 18, 2017, in and about Boone County in the Southern District of Iowa, the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, knowingly used fire, namely an oxy-acetylene cutting torch, to Conspire to Damage, Damage, and Attempt to Damage an Energy Facility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1366(a), a felony prosecutable in a court of the United States…

On or about March 18, 2017 , in and about Boone County in the Southern District of Iowa, the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, maliciously damaged and destroy ed by means of fire, personal property used in interstate commerce, namely Valve Site 240 of the Dakota Access Pipeline owned by Energy Transfer Partners…

On or about April 9, 2017 , in and about Wapello County in the Southern District of Iowa , the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, knowingly used fire, namely tires ignited by fire and gasoline soaked rags, to Conspire to Damage, Damage, and Attempt to Damage, an Energy Facility in violation of Title18, United States Code, Section 1366(a) , a felony prosecutable in a court of the United States…

On or about May 2, 2017, in and about Wapello County in the Southern District of Iowa, the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, knowingly used fire, namely an oxy-acetylene cutting torch, to Conspire to Damage, Damage, and Attempt to Damage an Energy Facility, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1366(a), a felony prosecutable in a court of the United States…

On or about May 2, 2017, in and about Wapello County in the Southern District of Iowa, the defendants, JESSICA RAE REZNICEK, also known as, Jessica Rae Anderson and Jessica Lane Reznicek, and RUBY KATHERINE MONTOYA, maliciously damaged and destroyed by means of fire, personal property used in interstate commerce, namely Valve Site 460 of the Dakota Access Pipeline owned by Energy Transfer Partners.

Will these two Dakota Access Pipeline vandals finally face justice? It remains to be seen, but the indictment is very specific. We’ll see. Meanwhile, though, take note of the opening statement that they “willfully and knowingly conspired and agreed … with other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury.” Presumably, this refers to their relationship to Rising Tide North America, which acted as their spokesperson back when they were first arrested. It is funded by the Levinson and Tides Foundation.

Rising Tide’s funds were funneled through a murky group called Media Island International, whose 2015 IRS 990 filing describes Rising Tide North America as follows:

Rising Tide North America (RTNA) Is an international, ell-volunteer, grassroots network of groups and Individuals who organize locally, promote community-based solutions to the climate crisis and take direct action to confront the root causes of climate change. RTNA organizes through a decentralized network of local chapters that support one another with shared resources, ideas, fundralslng, training end  advocacy of the corporate and political sectors. RTNA has participated In campaigns on tracking, tar sands pipelines, Arctic drilling and coal mining. Their work during 2015 Included grassroots community organizing In dozens of different cities, regions and communities In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, publishing educational materials, organizing many creative actions end peaceful protests, end holding over 50 public education events in order to further the struggle for climate justice.

Funds raised through grants to Rising Tide were used to maintain the organization’s brand through communications and web identity. RTNA is geographically dispersed through North America and funds were used to transport members to twice a year planning meetings. Funds were also used to support the organizing and educational projects of their network of chapters and indigenous allies. RTNA’s work has made a huge difference in the lives of people living on the frontlines of fossil fuel extraction and climate change.

Well, it’s sure making a difference in the lives of Ruby Montoya and Jessica Reznicek, isn’t it? This is the surreptitious work of the Tides Foundation, which funded Media Island International with money from Warren Buffett to pass through Rising Tide North America to give to these two useful idiots. Perhaps, if they plead or are found guilty, they’ll have time in prison to contemplate those facts.