BILLY J. WILLIAMS, OSB #901366 

United States Attorney 

District of Oregon 

ETHAN D. KNIGHT, OSB #992984 

GEOFFREY A. BARROW 

CRAIG J. GABRIEL, OSB #012571 

Assistant United States Attorneys 

ethan.knight@usdoj.gov

geoffrey.barrow@usdoj.gov 

craig.gabriel@usdoj.gov

1000 SW Third Ave., Suite 600 

Portland, OR 97204-2902 

Telephone: (503) 727-1000 

Attorneys for United States of America 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

DISTRICT OF OREGON 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

 v. 

COREY LEQUIEU, 

 Defendant. 

3:16-CR-00051-BR-02

GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE 

IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT 

LEQUIEU’S MOTION TO REVOKE 

PRETRIAL DETENTION ORDER 

The United States of America, by Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the 

District of Oregon, and Ethan D. Knight, Geoffrey A. Barrow, and Craig J. Gabriel, Assistant 

United States Attorneys, provides its response in opposition to Defendant Corey Lequieu’s 

Motion to Revoke Pretrial Detention Order (ECF No. 423). For the reasons outlined below, and 

as will be presented more thoroughly at the review of detention hearing, the government is 

recommending that defendant Lequieu remain in custody pending trial as he is a flight risk and 

he presents a danger to the community. The U.S. Pretrial Services Office is also recommending 

defendant Lequieu’s continued detention. 

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I. Factual Background 

 Defendant Lequieu has a long-standing animus toward the federal government and 

specifically the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”). Defendant’s Memorandum (ECF No. 

424) states: “[Lequieu] is notable not an activist.” To the contrary, defendant Lequieu has, in 

fact, participated in anti-BLM conduct. For example, on September 10, 2015, Lequieu posted a 

photo to his Facebook account, with him holding a sign reading: “I STAND WITH CLIVEN 

BUNDY AGAINST THE COMMUNIST OPPRESSION OF THE BLM AND THE OBAMA 

REGIME!!! THIS WE WILL DEFEND! NEVADA STATE MILTIA BATTLE BORN!!! III%!” 

 By December 2015, defendant Lequieu was already in Harney County, Oregon. 

Evidence at trial will show that he was a planner and organizer of the armed takeover of the 

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. While defendant Lequieu was in Harney County, he drew 

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the attention of law enforcement. The Oregon State Police issued a bulletin to the FBI on 

December 17, 2105, which stated: “Most importantly, Cody [sic] Lequieu, 41 yoa is talking 

openly about killing police officers. He apparently is in the area. He blames LE [Law 

Enforcement] for his troubles.” 

 On January 2, 2015, defendant Lequieu was in the initial convoy of occupiers who swept 

through the Refuge with assault rifles. Defendant Lequieu was part of this first group of 

occupiers who “secured” the Refuge to begin the weeks-long occupation. During the 

occupation, defendant Lequieu participated in guard duty, while armed with his assault rifle. 

Examples of photos of defendant Lequieu armed at the compound are shown below: 

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Gov’t’s Resp in Opp to Def Lequieu’s Mot to Revoke Pretrial Detention Order Page 4 

In defendant’s memorandum, he asks to be released to live in Nevada with his fiancée, 

Deborah Carter Pope. The Court should be aware that Ms. Pope herself was also at the 

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with defendant Lequieu during the illegal occupation. 

Finally, the defendant is charged with Using and Carrying a Firearm in Relation to a 

Crime of Violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). This charge carries a presumption of detention. 

The defendant’s memorandum does not present the kind of evidence needed to overcome such a 

presumption. 

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Gov’t’s Resp in Opp to Def Lequieu’s Mot to Revoke Pretrial Detention Order Page 5 

II. Conclusion 

 The government respectfully recommends that defendant’s Motion be denied and that 

defendant remain detained. 

 Dated this 19th day of April 2016. 

 Respectfully submitted, 

 BILLY J. WILLIAMS 

 United States Attorney 

 s/Craig J. Gabriel 

 ETHAN D. KNIGHT, OSB #992984 

 GEOFFREY A. BARROW 

 CRAIG J. GABRIEL, OSB #012571 

 Assistant United States Attorneys 

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