Lebanon Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Explosives

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Stephen R. Wigginton announced today that Thomas Lee Stanton, 18, of Lebanon, Illinois, pled guilty in the United States District Court in East St. Louis to the charge of unlawfully possessing destructive devices. Stanton is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, 2013. At that time, he faces maximum penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

In court today, Stanton admitted that on April 17, 2013, he possessed destructive devices including four “cricket” bombs, two Molotov cocktails, and other explosive-making materials.

“As indicated in court, Mr. Stanton’s plea was made without a recommended sentence. After a pre-sentence report is done, and all relevant factors are weighed, including the harms caused, the United States will make an appropriate recommendation to the court as to Mr. Stanton’s sentence,” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Illinois State Police; St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department; O’Fallon Police Department; Lebanon Police Department; Illinois Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad; Scott Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal K-9 Unit; O’Fallon Township High School Security Officers; and the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Liam Coonan and Ranley R. Killian.