OpenAI CEO attack suspect pleads not guilty to federal charges

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Daniel Moreno-Gama, the man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and threatening to burn down the company headquarters, pleaded not guilty to federal charges on Monday.

Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old from Houston, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of possession of an unregistered firearm and attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years on the property destruction charge. He also faces up to 10 years on the possession charge.

In addition, Moreno-Gama faces eight state charges in connection with the attack on Altman’s house. Those include two counts of attempted murder, attempted arson and possession of an incendiary device.

State prosecutors have also charged him with attempted criminal threats, possession of a flammable or combustible substance and attempted arson of an occupied building in connection with what authorities say was a planned attack on OpenAI’s headquarters.

He pleaded not guilty to all eight state charges on May 5, denying all of the charges against him.

Moreno-Gama appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson Monday with his federal public defender, Jodi Linker. Moreno-Gama did not speak except to state his name and age and affirm that he understood the nature of the charges against him. Assistant U.S. District Attorney Zachary Abrahamson also attended the hearing.

Federal prosecutors say Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to San Francisco with the intention of killing Altman. They say Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco around 3:30 a.m. on April 10, causing a fire at the top of a driveway gate.

Prosecutors claim Moreno-Gama thrn traveled around three miles to OpenAI’s headquarters, where they say he attempted to break into the building with a chair. They say he threatened to burn the building down and kill those inside. He was then arrested by San Francisco police.

The incidents at Altman’s house and OpenAI were captured on surveillance footage.

According prosecutor in the federal criminal complaint, police found Moreno-Gama in possession of incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, a blue lighter and a document, seemingly written by Moreno-Gama, advocating against artificial intelligence and the executives of AI companies, including Altman.

According to federal prosecutors, Moreno-Gama writes in the document that he had killed or attempted to kill Altman. They say it also lists the names and addresses of board members, CEOs and investors of other AI companies.

In the document, authorities say Moreno-Gama also shares his views on the risks AI poses to humanity. At one point, they say he addresses Altman directly, stating: “If by some miracle you live, then I would take this as a sign from the divine to redeem yourself."

At his May 1 initial federal appearance, the government requested that Moreno-Gama be detained, arguing he was a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Linker said she would not contest the government’s request since Moreno-Gama was already in detention in connection with his state case. Nonetheless, she stressed she reserved the right to seek release in the future.

On May 12, San Francisco Judge Kenneth Wine ordered that Moreno-Gama remain detained while awaiting trial, finding clear and convincing evidence that Moreno-Gama was a danger to the public, including his acts of violence toward Altman and the “lengthy” time he spent planning and preparing.

“It may be true that Mr. Moreno-Gama is seriously mentally ill, but here at the bail hearing, I have to protect the public … Holding him here does that,” the judge said. “I do think public safety is at issue. It is extraordinary to take a firebomb, no matter how incompetently, and throw it at someone’s house.”

Linker declined to comment. A representative for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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