Pa. Man Accused of Trying to Sell Bomb (Thought undecover FBI Agent was Al-Qaida!)

Yahoooooooooo via AP ^ | 5/23/05

[areafiftyone]

HOUSTON - A 68-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested on charges he tried to build a bomb and sell it to an agent he thought was a member of Al-Qaida, officials said Monday.

Ronald Allen Grecula of Bangor, Pa., was arrested Friday in Houston during a meeting with undercover FBI agents, U.S. Attorney Michael Shelby said. During that meeting, Grecula indicated willingness to build and sell an explosive device that was to be used against Americans, officials alleged in court documents.

Grecula was set to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon. He has been charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically al-Qaida, a news release from Shelby's office said.

If convicted, he could receive a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

He dealt with an undercover officer who he thought was a member of al-Qaida, the release said. A confidential source had introduced the agent to Grecula, it said.

Grecula negotiated with the source and later with undercover officers between April and last Friday to build and sell a bomb to terrorist groups targeting the United States, according to court documents.

The FBI recorded conversations with Grecula, in which he talked about technical knowledge about building an explosive device, his willingness to put on a demonstration, and the need for all involved to "be careful" as they planned the venture, Shelby said.

[bootless]

Hold muh beer.

[bootless]

Seriously, I'm glad this scum has been caught. How dare he.

[boofus]

15 years my ass, he should get the firing squad or gallows if he is guilty of aiding the enemy in terrorism.

[Bullish]

15 years in prison?

This should be a death penalty case.

[pubmom]

A serious butt-kicking is in order.

[peacebaby]

Guess we know where Grecula will be for the rest of his life.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Is this the same man?


A court presided by Justice Raymond C. Pace last week awarded sole custody to Mrs Grecula after she had successfully filed an application for provisional care and custody. The mother claims that her ex-husband, Ronald Grecula had violated the terms of a custody order for the children - 10-year-old Berenger and three-year-old Emilie - issued by a Pennsylvania Court on the 26th of October 2000. She says that Mr. Grecula fled the United States with the children the following November. The US Court has since revoked his access rights and has found the father to be in contempt of court.

[GiveEmDubya]

If convicted, he could receive a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

That's it?

[dead]

A quick Google shows that this guy was also wanted for kidnapping his own children. I wonder what the hell he was doing out there if they knew who he was.

And I wonder where the kids are.

http://www.courttv.com/archive/missingchildren/

[The G Man]

Someone set him up the bomb?

[areafiftyone]

I have no idea. That is bizarre! I wonder where he fled to?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Want to bet which party he most associates himself with?

[raivyn]

doh!

[bootless]

Beautiful kids. I find it creepy that he lives in Bushkill, PA.

[thag]

15 years in prison?

This should be a death penalty case.

I imagine it would be......

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.mifsudbonnici.com/press/PressMaltamedia050302.html

[lexington minuteman 1775]

OK, so we have people willing to stuff that goes bang to bad guys, but would not it have made more sense to have actually paid him with marked money besides the taped convos or actually let him build a prototype for better chance of getting conviction. And why only 15 years it would seem under Patriot act or something this sort of charge is more than just building a bomb to blow up a place or work or something, this was a terrorist act and he knew it.