Danger! Illegal “M-Device” Explosives Injure, Kill, and Threaten Our Neighborhoods

ATF Urges Pennsylvanians To Not Use or Buy Them and To Report Their Manufacture and Sale

PHILADELPHIA – With Independence Day approaching, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division warns Pennsylvanians of the dangers of illegal explosive devices and encourages the public to report their manufacture and sales to protect their community.

“Illegal explosives are extremely volatile and dangerous,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “You put yourself and anyone around at risk of injury or death by just handling them because they can explode on their own.”

“Their manufacture, storage and handling can lead to deadly explosions and fire,” DeGree added. “When you buy them, you’re supporting dangerous criminal activity.”

These dangerous devices, sometimes called M-80s, M-100, M-250, etc., are a particular concern in Pennsylvania, which accounted for more than 15% of all ATF illegal explosive device investigations nation-wide since 2020.

To tackle the problem ATF Philadelphia works with state and local fire and police agencies as well as federal law enforcement agencies like the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to prevent manufacture and sales of illegal explosive devices, and to hold perpetrators accountable.

“Too many people have suffered life altering or deadly explosions because of these dangerous explosives,” said Tim Brooks, a Certified Explosive Specialist Bomb Technician from the Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit assigned to the ATF Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force. He is all too familiar with the danger posed by these devices, whose misuse can be deadly. “These devices are manufactured without safety oversight or quality control. The fillers inside occasionally contain small rocks that when bumped together can cause the slightest spark and set these off!”

As part of its core mission, ATF actively regulates and investigates the illegal use of explosives. Under federal explosives law, it is illegal to manufacture, store, distribute, receive or transport explosive materials without a federal explosives license or permit. Violations are punishable with up to 10 years in federal prison.

It is important to distinguish illegal explosives from regular consumer fireworks. Here are some signs that a device may be an illegal explosive device:

• They are sold in a non-commercial location, such as out of a vehicle or residence.
• The person with the device has no evidence of a receipt or commercial packaging, or they cannot tell you where they originally purchased it.
• The device is often 1-6 inches long and up to an inch or more in diameter.
• The casing resembles a roll of coins with a fuse. Some outer shells are made of cardboard tubes.
• The outer covering is red, silver or brown in color.
• The device looks oddly shaped and wrapped in brown paper that may be filled with an explosive material.

These devices should not be handled if you have or find one. Anyone with such explosives (or items they think may be explosives) should act with extreme care and contact their police or fire departments for guidance. Either call the ATF tip line below or 911 to turn it over. The authorities will coordinate for proper safe handling and disposal.

To protect yourself and your community, ATF urges the public to report manufacturing or sales to your local police or ATF tip line at 888-ATF-TIPS (283-8477), ATFTips@atf.gov, www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips, or via the ReportIt® app.

“I wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day,” said DeGree.

For further information on illegal explosives, visit ATF’s Illegal Explosives page.

Centre County Man Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations

JOHNSTOWN, PA—A resident of Centre County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of interfering with housing, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Ryan M. Held, a/k/a Ryan M. Foley, 21, of 133 Hemlock Street in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on August 20, 2010, Held, by force and threat of force, willfully intimidated and interfered with two minor victims, one of whom was an African-American male, because of his race and because he was occupying a dwelling; and one of whom was a female who was and had been lawfully allowing such African-American male, a friend, to occupy the dwelling in which she resided. During the afternoon of August 20, Held drove past the female victim’s home in Woodland, Pennsylvania, and saw her socializing with a few friends, one of whom was African-American. Just before midnight, Held returned to the property and placed a cross in the front yard of the female victim, approximately 60 feet from the entry to her home, and set it on fire for the purpose of intimidating and interfering with her and her African-American friend. Held spent a few minutes laying in the woods bordering the property watching the cross burn and waiting to see if anyone emerged from the residence.

“Every citizen has the right to be safe in their own home, free from racial intolerance and intimidation,” said U.S. Attorney Hickton. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute criminals whose actions are driven by bigotry and hate.”

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2013, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Judge Gibson revoked bond and ordered Held detained pending the sentencing proceeding.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government, together with Trial Attorney Roy Conn of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Held.

Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Pornographic Images and Videos of Children

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Matthew Lawrence Gamret, 28, of 111 Kentmoor Drive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on January 16, 2012, Gamret possessed visual depictions, namely, images and videos in computer graphics files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for January 30, 2013, at noon. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gamret.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by Illegal Alien

Jose Miguel Perez, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment alleges that on or about August 24, 2012, Perez, an alien, knowingly possessed a Taurus Model PT 111, 9mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with 12 live rounds of ammunition.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years.

The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Fox.

Philadelphia Man Charged in Laser Strike Incident

Daniel F. Dangler, 29, of Philadelphia, was charged today by information with aiming the beam of a laser at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Dangler allegedly aimed a laser pointer at a Philadelphia television news helicopter on July 18, 2012.

On February 14, 2012, President Barack Obama signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which modernizes the nation’s aviation system. This act establishes a new criminal offense for aiming the beam of a laser at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or at the flight path of such an aircraft. The statute was enacted in response to a growing number of incidents of pilots being distracted or even temporarily blinded by laser beams.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Fitzpatrick.

Individual Charged with Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property

Yijia Zhang, formerly of King of Prussia, was charged in an indictment that was unsealed today with computer damage and interstate transportation of stolen property, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Zhang is charged with stealing sensitive documents from his employer and with disabling a company server that he used to transfer the documents to cover his actions.

If convicted, Zhang faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Levy.

An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Information Regarding Defendant

Name: Yijia Zhang

Age: 36

Address: South San Francisco, California