BUSTED: Man charged with throwing Molotov cocktails into LA federal building

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A man with “an extensive criminal record” was arrested Monday for tossing two Molotov cocktail explosive devices at a Los Angeles federal building Monday morning, after intentionally setting his apartment on fire.

The building reportedly houses the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s office and other agencies. The attack appeared to be directed at ICE, and the man himself touted that he was committing a terrorist attack.

In a press release, the Justice Department wrote:

A Koreatown man was charged today with throwing Molotov cocktails at security officers inside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, an attack law enforcement believes was motivated by anti-immigration enforcement sentiment.

Jose Francisco Jovel, 54, was arrested Monday and is charged with attempted malicious damage of federal property. Jovel is expected to make his initial appearance on Wednesday in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Jovel – who hours earlier had set his Koreatown apartment on fire after receiving an eviction notice – arrived Monday morning at the Federal Building, located in the Civic Center of downtown Los Angeles. Jovel arrived outside the building with multiple shopping bags. The Federal Building houses offices for several federal agencies, including United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

While standing at the base of the stairs outside the building’s main entrance, Jovel reached into one of the bags on his bicycle’s handlebars and then threw a Molotov cocktail through the building’s sliding door, which was open at the time, and is marked as an employee entrance.

Jovel then threw another Molotov cocktail through the then-open door of the Federal Building’s public entrance, where a line of members of the public were waiting to go through security to enter the building.

Evidence collected from the scene, including surveillance video, indicates Jovel attempted to light at least one of the devices. Federal officers immediately arrested Jovel then searched the bags he brought with him, which included a lighter and five additional Molotov cocktails. During his arrest, Jovel said he was motivated by his anger at the federal government of its immigration policies and actions.

Jovel described his actions as “a terrorist attack” and said to the officers, “you’re separating families” – a remark commonly made by opponents of current United States government immigration policies. He then yelled for people to “start shooting these,” referring to the officers.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Jovel would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from the Federal Protective Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jenna W. Long of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case.

In a separate press release, DHS shared the following details:

A man with an extensive criminal record was arrested Monday after throwing multiple Molotov cocktails at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office building in Los Angeles, CA, while shouting anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sentiments.

On Monday, the 54-year-old suspect arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building (LAFB) armed with multiple Molotov cocktails. A contract Protective Security Officer (PSO) heard the man yelling anti-ICE comments at the officers on the sidewalk off property. He proceeded to throw two Molotov cocktails at officers guarding the building.

The suspect was taken into custody and stated that he wanted to blow up the building and “spray down” all the officers while making more derogatory comments about ICE officers. Fortunately, the bottles were not lit and did not catch fire and there were no injuries or damage to federal property. He also had four knives and a Leatherman tool on him at the time of his arrest.

The suspect has an extensive criminal history that spans back almost four decades, including an attempted murder charge in 1987, a robbery armed with a firearm charge in 1991, and a charge of annoying or molesting a victim under 18 in 2007.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced:

Jose Francisco Jovel, 54, is charged with throwing two Molotov cocktails into our downtown Los Angeles Federal Building. This building houses our U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE, and is where illegal immigrants are processed. Jovel was targeting our immigration enforcement operations and wanted to send a political message.

Thankfully, the devices did not ignite and no one was injured. Jovel was immediately arrested. Federal officers seized Jovel’s belongings and discovered five other Molotov cocktails.

Jovel is charged with attempted malicious damage of federal property, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and up to 20 years’ imprisonment. This is an ongoing investigation and we’ll be looking at adding additional charges.

This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence. Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.

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