4 People Accused Of Attempting To Harass Employees, Patients At Pregnancy Centers: FBI

TAMPA, FL — A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida returned a superseding indictment charging two additional Florida residents with federal crimes arising out of a series of targeted attacks on pregnancy resource facilities in the state.

According to the superseding indictment, Gabriella Oropesa of Clermont and Annarella Rivera of Hialeah, engaged in a conspiracy to prevent employees of reproductive health services facilities from providing those services at the Lifechoice Women's Health Center on Central Avenue in Winter Haven on the weekend of June 25 and 26 following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade on June 24.

Caleb Freestone, 27, and Amber Smith-Stewart, 23, were charged on Jan. 24 with the same offenses.

All four are accused of vandalizing the Winter Haven clinic with spray-painted threats including, "If abortions aren't safe than niether (sic) are you" and "Your Time Is Up!!" "We're coming for U" and "We are everywhere."

According to the indictment, Freestone, Smith-Stewart, Oropesa and Rivera also targeted facilities in Hollywood and Hialeah.

The superseding indictment also accuses Rivera, Freestone and Smith-Stewart of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act by using threats of force to intimidate and interfere with the employees of a reproductive health services facility in Winter Haven because those employees were providing or seeking to provide reproductive health services.

Additionally, they're accused of violating the FACE Act by intentionally damaging and destroying the facility's property because the facility provides reproductive health services.

The FACE Act, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, prohibits the use of any type of force or intimidation against anyone seeking an abortion, anyone exercising their First Amendment right of religious freedom or intentionally damaging or destroying a reproductive healthcare facility or place of worship.

If convicted, Rivera, Freestone and Smith-Stewart face up to a maximum of 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $350,000.

Oropesa faces up to a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

In January, the FBI announced a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of people targeting health care reproductive facilities across the country.

"We will continue to work closely with our national, state and local law enforcement partners to hold responsible anyone who uses extremist views to justify their criminal actions," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.

According to the Department of Justice, both employees and patients at the centers have been intimidated. Graffiti has been spray-painting on the exterior walls of the facilities. And Molotov cocktails were thrown at two centers, setting them on fire.