Millsboro man indicted on destructive device charges

Delaware State News
Posted 8/4/21

WILMINGTON — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment Tuesday charging a 23-year-old Millsboro man with possession of four destructive devices and an AK-47 with an altered serial …

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Millsboro man indicted on destructive device charges

Posted

WILMINGTON — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment Tuesday charging a 23-year-old Millsboro man with possession of four destructive devices and an AK-47 with an altered serial number, U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced in a news release.

According to the indictment, Job Gillette had previously been convicted of a crime that prohibited him from possessing any firearms.

The indictment alleges that on March 24, Mr. Gillette was found in possession of one intact improvised incendiary device made of a glass bottle containing a yellow-colored ignitable liquid and a white foam-like material, with matches secured to the cap and neck of the bottle.

The indictment further alleges that, on the same date, Mr. Gillette also possessed the parts to readily assemble three additional incendiary devices. Mr. Gillette was also allegedly in possession of an AK-47 rifle with an altered serial number.

“Law enforcement recovered homemade bombs and an AK-47 from the defendant, who was prohibited from legally possessing any firearms,” U.S. Attorney Weiss said.

“The officers’ actions thereby ensured that these homemade bombs could never be put to use. Delaware is safer because of their efforts. I am particularly grateful to the concerned citizens who alerted the authorities so the defendant could be held accountable in a court of law.”

Mr. Gillette is charged with four counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of possession of a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number.

“You so often hear us say, ‘If you see something, say something.’ That’s exactly what happened in this case and because of that citizen alert, we averted a potentially hazardous situation.” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, special agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office.

“According to this indictment, Mr. Gillette was stock-piling dangerous explosive materials and possessed an illegally acquired AK-47. We are fortunate, through swift law enforcement action, that no one was hurt.”

If convicted, Mr. Gillette faces maximum penalties of 10 years in prison for each of the first five counts and five years in prison for possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according to the news release.

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