Essex County Man Admits Transporting Explosive Materials

TRENTON, NJ—An Essex County, New Jersey man today admitted transporting explosive chemicals in a piece of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipe to Pennsylvania without a federal license or permit, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Anthony Nicholas Gallo, 20, of North Caldwell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with transportation of explosive materials without a license or permit issued by the U.S. Attorney General.

According to the Information to which Gallo pleaded guilty and statements made in court:

On January 8, 2012, Gallo went to Pennsylvania and blew up potassium chlorate and magnesium in a PVC pipe, which provided a contained environment for the chemicals to produce a more powerful explosion. The potassium chlorate mixture is considered to be an explosive by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The charge to which Gallo pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2013.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents, detectives, and investigators assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge David Velazquez, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force comprises law enforcement officers from 30 federal, state, and local agencies throughout New Jersey. He also thanked the North Caldwell Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their significant contributions to this investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce M. Malliet of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.