Lebanon Man Sentenced for 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, was sentenced in United States District Court in East St. Louis to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, a $200 fine, and a $100 special assessment for the charge of unlawfully possessing destructive devices.

“Remember that these devices, despite the name, could maim or kill anyone nearby. Clearly, the court was sending a message that there is no reason to fool with do-it-yourself explosive devices,” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

Stanton had previously admitted that on April 17, 2013, he possessed destructive devices, including four “cricket” bombs, two Molotov cocktails, and other explosive-making materials. Evidence at sentencing indicated that Stanton had hoarded and concealed other bomb-making components. Stanton had also made racist writings in his journals and school notes.

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