A former Huntington Beach resident linked to a white supremacist extremist group was sentenced today to two years in federal prison for planning and engaging in riots at political rallies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California.
Robert Paul Rundo, 34, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13 to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Riot Act.
Between March 2017 and May 2018, Rundo participated in the “Rise Above Movement” (RAM), a group promoting white nationalist and supremacist ideologies, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The department said Rundo and others attended rallies with the intent to provoke violence, sharing photos and videos online celebrating their actions, often accompanied by hashtags like “#rightwingdeathsquad.”
The department stated Rundo helped organize and participate in fighting training sessions to prepare for violent clashes.
At a March 2017 rally in Huntington Beach, Rundo tackled and punched a protester, the department confirmed.