Homeland Security News

The sentencing of a U.S. Army soldier whose two convictions for providing information on how to manufacture an explosive device and napalm has been postponed to mid-July, U.S. District Court records show.

Jarrett William Smith, 24, had been scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, but that was re-scheduled to July 15 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which started in March and is ongoing.

Kansas and federal courts have been largely closed during the past three months because of the coronavirus which has swept the United States and the rest of the globe.

Smith had provided instruction to make an improvised explosive device and a recipe to make napalm, court records said. On February 10, 2020, Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing explosives information, court records said. Each count would carry a penalty of no more than 20 years apiece in prison.

Read more: WIBW

Federal authorities have charged an Illinois man for civil disorder, carrying on a riot and possession of unregistered destructive devices associated with recent clashes between violent protesters and police in Minneapolis.

In videos allegedly posted to his Facebook account on May 29, Matthew Lee Rupert, 28, was seen passing out explosive devices to other rioters and encouraged them to throw the devices at law enforcement officers, according to the criminal complaint released Monday.

After handing an explosive device to another rioter and telling the person to throw it at police SWAT officers, the complaint states that Rupert is heard on video saying "He's throwing my bombs," adding, "He's going to bomb the police with them."
After an audible explosion is heard, Rupert is heard saying, "Good shot my boy," according to the complaint, as well as, "F*** 12," a derogatory phrase often directed at law enforcement.

Read more: CNN

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation into the stabbing of an NYPD cop in Brooklyn.
The feds arrived early Thursday at the Flatbush apartment building of the man accused of stabbing the cop in the neck.

Agents could be seen at the address on East 22nd Street in an apparent search of evidence, near the scene of the violent confrontation on Church Avenue, where the melee unfolded at about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force also arrived Thursday morning at the scene, while police took photos of “ACAB” graffiti — an acronym meaning “All Cops Are Bastards.”

The graffiti may be related to an anti-police demonstration that took place this past weekend in the same neighborhood, a source said.

Read more: NY Post

Three Nevada men with ties to a loose movement of right-wing extremists advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government have been arrested on terrorism-related charges in what authorities say was a conspiracy to spark violence during recent protests in Las Vegas.

Federal prosecutors say the three white men with U.S. military experience are accused of conspiring to carry out a plan that began in April in conjunction with protests to reopen businesses closed because of the coronavirus and later sought to capitalize on protests over the death of a Minneapolis man in police custody.

They were arrested Saturday on the way to a protest in downtown Las Vegas after filling gas cans at a parking lot and making Molotov cocktails in glass bottles, according to a copy of the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press.

Read more: MSN

A Worcester man was arrested and charged Wednesday with civil disorder and possession of a Molotov cocktail during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd that occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week.

Vincent Eovacious, 18, allegedly attempted to obstruct or interfere with officers responding to the violent demonstration in Worcester on June 1, according to a release issued by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.

Eovacious was arrested after being released on bond following state charges, including possession of an incendiary device. He will appear in federal court in Worcester Thursday.

“The right to protest is not the right to hurt police officers and destroy property,” said  Lelling. “According to the complaint, this self-proclaimed anarchist built Molotov cocktails – homemade firebombs – to use during a demonstration honoring George Floyd. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who pursues violence under cover of peaceful protest.”

Read more: WHDH (Boston)