Seminole County Man Charged with Possessing Bombs in Winter Park

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Carl Joseph Thomas Pisa (24, Casselberry) was arrested yesterday after selling explosive devices to an undercover agent in Winter Park. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.

According to court documents, in December 2014, an undercover task force agent (UC) with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office contacted Pisa in response to an online ad for a military simulator offered for sale. Pisa agreed to sell him the simulator. Between December 2014 and February 2015, Pisa met with the UC on several occasions to sell the UC explosives. On February 6, 2015, Pisa sold the UC 12 improvised explosive devices in a parking lot in Winter Park. During the meeting, the UC asked Pisa if the explosives could kill somebody, to which Pisa responded, “yes.” In describing the bombs, Pisa explained how ball bearings would blast out from the device in a perfect cone upon initiation. The devices were sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives laboratory for examination, where they were identified as explosive bombs and destructive devices. It was also determined that they were not properly registered to Pisa in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James D. Mandolfo.

This is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy.  United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Regina Lombardo, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. It is also a part of ATF’s Frontline strategy to reduce violent crime and improve the quality of life where law enforcement efforts are focused.