David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging a Millsboro man with possession of four destructive devices and an AK-47 with an altered serial number.
According to the indictment, Job Gillette, 23, had previously been convicted of a crime that prohibited him from possessing any firearms. The indictment alleges that on March 24, 2021, Gillette was found in possession of one intact improvised incendiary device made of a glass bottle containing a yellow-colored ignitable liquid and a white foam-like material, with matches secured to the cap and neck of the bottle. The indictment further alleges that, on the same date, Gillette also possessed the parts to readily assemble three additional devices made of Hennessy Cognac bottles filled with yellow-colored ignitable liquid and a foam-like material. Gillette was also in possession of an AK-47 rifle with an altered serial number, said Weiss.
Gillette is charged with four counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of possession of a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties of ten years in prison for each of the first five counts and five years in prison for possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Law enforcement recovered homemade bombs and an AK-47 from the defendant, who was prohibited from legally possessing any firearms. The officers’ actions thereby ensured that these homemade bombs could never be put to use. Delaware is safer because of their efforts. I am particularly grateful to the concerned citizens who alerted the authorities so the defendant could be held accountable in a court of law.”
“You so often hear us say, ‘if you see something, say something’ that’s exactly what happened in this case and because of that citizen alert we averted a potentially hazardous situation,” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “According to this indictment, Mr. Gillette was stock-piling dangerous explosive materials and possessed an illegally acquired AK-47. We are fortunate, through swift law enforcement action, that no one was hurt. The FBI would like to highlight the assistance of our federal, state and local partners who stand ready to identify, disrupt, and dismantle any plans to inflict harm on our communities.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Wilmington Resident Office, with substantial assistance from the Delaware State Police and Delaware State Fire Marshals. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Mandelbaum.
Source: DOJ