Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Morris County, New Jersey, Man Charged with Possessing Bombs, and Being a Felon in Possession of Guns and Explosive Materials
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly building and exploding a bomb, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Christopher Faschan, 31, of Landing, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count each of possession of numerous explosive/destructive devices, possession of precursor materials, and being a felon in possession of explosive materials, firearms and ammunition. He is scheduled to appear April 5, 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Feb. 1, 2019, Faschan drove to the home of “Individual 1” in Stanhope, New Jersey, and displayed what he claimed to be a bomb to Individual 1. According to Individual 1, Faschan stated: “this may be a good area to let this thing off” before leaving the area. Shortly thereafter, Faschan detonated the bomb in the area of Lake Lackawanna in Stanhope. He then called Individual 1 and stated: “That’s something that could easily be put under someone’s car, not that I would do that or anything.”
On Feb. 4, 2019, law enforcement agents interviewed Faschan, who said that he had ignited the bomb. He described it as two pounds in weight and explained how he used and mixed Potassium Perchlorate, Aluminum Powder, and Tannerite to make several bombs that were in his home. At Faschan’s home, law enforcement agents found explosive devices, precursor materials, weapons and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark; the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; officers of the Byram Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter J. Zabita; the Roxbury Police Department, under the direction of Chief Marc Palanchi; the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Francis A. Koch; Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon; Morris County Prosecutor Frederic M. Knapp; and the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The counts of possession of a destructive device, possession of explosive materials by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean C. Sovolos of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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