Cottage Grove woman arrested by FBI, indicted in federal court over violent online threats

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Cottage Grove woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly posting violent threats online, the Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

According to court documents, the FBI received an anonymous tip in late September of last year, alleging that 56-year-old Elizabeth Ballesteros West was threatening her co-workers on Facebook.

In November, the FBI was then alerted that West was allegedly using her own X account to post content containing violent messages targeting Black and Jewish people, as well as immigrants.

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Court documents also state several of West’s posts included “what appeared to be photos of firearms including several handguns, a shotgun and an AR-style assault rifle.”

On January 3, officials say West later admitting to posting and reposting this content, as well as the fact she possessed multiple shotguns and AR-15 assault rifles at her home.

One week later, the FBI executed federal search warrants on West. Agents reportedly located and seized 12 handguns, 16 rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a journal that authorities say contained “Writings and drawings that included additional hateful and violent statements.”

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Three days after, West was arrested by FBI agents in Eugene.

West has been charged with one count of transmitting an interstate threat.

She made her first appearance in federal court Thursday where a judge ordered her “detained pending further court proceedings.”

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