Protesters Convicted on Conspiracy Charges
A jury in Washington found three protesters guilty of federal conspiracy charges related to their attempt to transport two undocumented immigrants from Spokane to Tacoma last June after federal agents detained them.
The convicted individuals—Jack Archer, Judge Foral, and Bajung Mavalwala II—may face a maximum of six years in prison and a hefty fine of up to $250,000.
These charges arose during a protest near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in downtown Spokane. Supporters of the trio refer to them as the “Spokane 3.”
Hundreds of individuals responded to a Facebook post from former City Council President Ben Stuckert last summer, which called for people to block immigration buses, as reported by National Public Radio’s KUOW.
Stuckert had previously sponsored one of the two immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S.
In total, nine protesters, including Stuckert, were arrested on conspiracy charges. Stuckert and five others accepted plea deals for reduced sentences.
After the jury’s verdict, Rep. Natasha Hill (D-Spokane) expressed gratitude toward the supporters of the defendants during the nearly two-week trial. However, she criticized Stuckert for his absence in court, stating, “You started this and you couldn’t even show up to finish it. So I call on you, and others, to do what you set out to do and stand up for your community, because in this belief the fight is not over.”
In response, Stuckert mentioned on Facebook that attending the trial could risk violating his parole.
“I feel terrible about the conviction. I feel terrible for Jack, Bajung, Justice, and their families. I support those who took plea deals and I support those who went to trial,” Stuckert wrote.
Bajung Mavalwala Sr., a protester and father of a Congressional candidate, criticized the U.S. attorney, suggesting that the prosecution aims to set an example for his family. He labeled the prosecutors as “political and vindictive.”
Defense attorneys have indicated plans to appeal the verdict.
