THREE CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY MANUFACTURING AND SELLING EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

Andrew T. Baxter, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and John F. Pikus, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that AARON SCORSONE, 18 of Watervliet, New York; Jonathan Plunkett, 22 of Troy, New York; and Scott Monroe, 26 of Watervliet, New York were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Albany, New York. The indictment charges all three defendants with conspiracy (agreeing) to unlawfully manufacture and sell explosive materials in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 371, 842(a) and 844; as well as Title 26 United States C ode Sections 5811, 5812, 5861(b),(e) and 5871. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

AARON SCORSONE and JONATHAN PLUNKETT were also charged with aiding and abetting one another in the unlawful possession, manufacture and sale of explosive and destructive devices on September 25, 2008 (Count 2 - an explosive device), on October 4, 2008 (Count 3 - destructive devices), October 27, 2008 (Count 4 - a destructive device), and on November 16, 2008 (Count 5 -explosive devices). If convicted of those counts charging the unlawful manufacture, possession and sale of an explosive device, each defendant faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the unlawful manufacture or sale of a destructive device, that is, an explosive device containing fragmentation, each defendant faces up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. In addition, AARON SCORSONE is charged with unlawfully dealing in explosive materials (Count 6 -15 explosive devices) on December 4,2008, as well as the unlawful possession of a fully automatic AR-15 assault rifle at the time of his arrest (Count 10). If convicted of the later charge, AARON SCORSONE faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, SCOTT MONROE is charged with unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosive devices (Count 7) in violation of Title 18 United States Code Sections 842(a) and844(a). If convicted of these offenses, he too faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Counts 8 & 9 charge AARON SCORSONE with unlawfully manufacturing, and also, possessing with intent to distribute, marijuana in violation of Title 21 United States Code Section 841(a)(1). And finally, Count 11 charges AARON SCORSONE with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm that has moved in interstate commerce in violation of Title 18, United States Code Sections 922(g) and 924(a)(2). If convicted of Counts 8, 9, and 11 respectively, AARON SCORSONE will face up to five years in prison (Counts 8 & 9), 10 years in prison (Count 11), and an additional fine of up to $250,000 per count.

The indictment alleges that the group’s unlawful activities had been underway since approximately June of 2008, several months before an informant working with the New York Police Department (NYPD) Intelligence Division - Operation Sentry made the first controlled buy on September 25, 2008, and that is when the case was initiated. Judicially authorized electronic surveillance was thereafter promptly commenced in an effort to identify other co-conspirators.

Several additional controlled buys were thereafter made, culminating in the arrest of AARON SCORSONE on December 4, 2008 as he exchanged 15 explosive devices as a down payment on a fully automatic AR-15 assault rifle. Scorsone’s arrest was followed by the arrest of JONATHAN PLUNKETT and SCOTT MONROE, as well as the execution of search warrants or consent searches at their homes.

During the course of the ten week investigation, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with the assistance of the New York State Police (NYSP) Bomb Disposal Unit, seized nearly 80 homemade explosive devices, which were recovered during transactions between the NYPD Source and the subjects, or seized during seven searches that were conducted during a two day period on December 4th and 5th, 2008 in the Troy and Watervliet, New York, areas. At one of the search locations, investigators uncovered sufficient pre-cursor chemicals and materials to produce a significant number of additional homemade explosive devices. Investigators also seized seventeen weapons from the various search locations, including a .50 caliber rifle, along with other rifles, pistol grip shotguns, and tear gas guns.

The following agencies provided significant assistance to the FBI JTTF during the course of the investigation: The NYPD Intelligence Division - Operation Sentry, the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the NYSP, the Troy Police Department, the Watervliet Police Department, the North Greenbush Police Department, the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, and the Colonie Police Department.

Acting U.S. Attorney Baxter had high praise for the unwavering support provided to the Joint Terrorism Task Force by the local law enforcement agencies despite budgetary constraints. “We greatly appreciate that our law enforcement partners at every level are willing to support the counterterrorism mission, understanding that national security and public safety at the local level are inextricably linked. The collaborative efforts of the agencies participating in this investigation provide a textbook example of what can be accomplished when local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work together. It is precisely what the public expects and deserves from law enforcement.”

This prosecution will handled in the United States Attorney's Office by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Belliss. .

CONTACT:

Rick Belliss
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Tel (518) 431-0247

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