By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man used a drone to drop explosives on his ex-girlfriend’s property, a prosecutor has alleged.
Jason Muzzicato was arrested by the FBI following the search of his auto business and his home on June 7, according to Lehigh Valley Live. Agents seized illegal semi-automatic pistols, AR-15 rifles and handmade explosives from his home and business. His possession of weapons was illegal because of a domestic violence protective order filed against him in 2017.
He was charged this month with crimes related to possession of the firearms and explosives, as well as for flying a DJI Phantom 3 drone that wasn’t registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
At Muzzicato’s arraignment in federal court on Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gallagher said that, since Muzzicato used a drone to deliver an explosive to his ex-girlfriend’s property, he should remain in custody, the Morning Call reports. Prosecutors alleged that the devices found in Muzzicato’s possession on June 7 connect him to explosions that had disturbed the community since late March but caused no damage or injuries.
However, defense attorney John Waldron said Muzzicato denied using drones to drop bombs.
“We don’t have any conclusive evidence, and when my client was interviewed by the FBI he denied that,” Waldron said, according to the Morning Call.
Waldron said the FBI is analyzing the mobile devices Muzzicato used to fly his drone to find where and when the drone flew.
Washington Township resident Charles Carcione told local news station WTAP about hearing explosions in the neighborhood at that time and filming one explosion with his home security camera.
“One day, I was...in the driveway doing something,” Carcione told WTAP. “All of a sudden, I heard them. It rained nails. They came out of the sky. ... Nobody was around. Nobody went by and threw them. They dropped from the sky.”
Carcione told WTAP he knew Muzzicato and had been suspicious of him.
Court records show a search of Muzzicato’s vehicles found dashboard switches that controlled contraptions that released ball bearings, nails, and paint thinner that could potentially be used to vandalize other vehicles, according to The Morning Call.
Muzzicato could face 33 years in prison and a $760,000 fine if convicted.