CV Man Sentenced in Federal Case

The Department of Justice announced last Monday that a Castro Valley man was sentenced to 126 months in prison for obstructing justice and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Robert Blancas, 35, was one of four people arrested in connection with a scheme to destroy records related to the murder of a federal Protective Security Officer (PSO) and the shooting and wounding of another PSO at the Oakland federal building on May 29, 2020. Blancas and his co-defendants were active members of the “Grizzly Scouts,” a militia group connected to the “boogaloo” movement, according to a statement by US Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. Jessie Rush, 29, of Turlock; Simon Ybarra, 23, of Los Gatos; and Kenny Miksch, 21, of San Lorenzo were previously sentenced on May 5, 2022. Rush, Ybarra, and Miksch each remain in federal custody. 

Last year, the four men admitted guilt to conspiring with other Grizzly Scouts members to destroy the records of their interactions and communications because they foresaw authorities would investigate and prosecute a fellow Grizzly Scout’s participation in the May 2020 shooting. Blancas, who oversaw the group’s security and intelligence, admitted he destroyed computer files regarding many internal details of the Grizzly Scouts’ operation.

“Robert Blancas and his three co-defendants conspired to cover up the murder of a federal officer. Not only was Blancas convicted of obstruction of justice, he was also convicted of the heinous crime of enticing a juvenile to make child pornography,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan. "Either of these crimes on their own would have been very significant, high-priority cases for the FBI. The broad nature of his criminal offenses demonstrates that Robert Blancas was a threat to society. The combined sentence of greater than ten years in federal prison prevents him from continuing to harm our community."

In an earlier plea agreement, Blancas admitted that from about April through September 2020 he enticed a 15-year-old girl to make and send him more than 100 pornographic photographs and videos of herself. 

In addition to the prison term, the sentencing judge--United States District Judge Vince Chhabria--imposed a ten-year term of supervised release on Blancas following incarceration.