PHILADELPHIA—Ryan Joseph Hribick, 34, of Minersville, formerly of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to all four counts in the pending indictment charging him with one count of possession of unregistered firearms, one count of manufacturing and dealing explosive materials, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, and one count of witness tampering. United States District Judge Robert F. Kelly scheduled sentencing for Hribick on July 17, 2015.

From about March 2009 to about February 2013, Hribick possessed, manufactured, and sold improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”), including PVC pipes (some containing nails, screws, and/or rocks) and cardboard tubes, all center primed with flash powder. After federal agents searched his home, Hribick instructed and conspired with others to destroy and conceal cardboard tubes and flash powder – which Hribick was using to manufacture IEDs – so as to keep that evidence from federal agents and the federal grand jury.

In addition, Hribick attempted to influence the testimony of a federal grand jury witness regarding the destruction and concealment of evidence. Specifically, Hribick advised the witness to lie and conceal from the federal grand jury the fact that the witness had destroyed and concealed evidence according to Hribick’s instructions. At this time, Hribick knew that the federal grand jury was actively investigating his conduct.

Hribick faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years in prison, a $1 million fine, three years of supervised release and a $400 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, the Philadelphia Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the Montgomery County Bomb Squad, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the East Whiteland Police Department, the East Whiteland Fire Department, the Malvern Fire Department, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, the Maryland State Police, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vineet Gauri.