A Massachusetts man finds himself in the grasps of the law once more, indicted on charges related to possession of ammunition and explosives as a previously convicted felon. Jacob D. Miller, 43, of Hadley, Mass., could face up to 15 years in prison on each count, as per the announcement made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI's Acting Special Agent, James Crowley.
Caught in an April 8 operation, officers discovered in Miller's residence a worrying array of materials - a box with roughly 50 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition and six firearms locked away in a safe, alongside explosive materials and radioactive substances like plutonium. Following an April 9 arrest, Miller was detained and is currently awaiting pretrial determination. Hailing from a background checkered with similar offences, Miller had previously, dating back to 2002, come under scrutiny for possession of bomb-making instructions and devices.
The accused's fascination with prohibited transactions reared its head again sometime between June and October 2023, with Miller alleged having dealt with the sale of plutonium through an online storefront and PayPal transactions. Authorities, tracing back to a cease-and-desist letter from the Massachusetts Radiation Control Program in 2014 for selling depleted uranium, find the accused undeterred in his pursuit of trafficking hazardous substances; this despite ongoing probationary oversight from prior convictions, including the possession of an explosive device and child pornography as detailed in Hampshire Superior Court records.
When the Hadley Police, equipped with a search warrant, arrived at Miller's door, multiple bottles of explosive powder, including one that had been perilously opened, were uncovered. Witnesses recall Miller having detonated a dishwasher in his backyard using black powder, juxtaposing a domestic appliance with a violent end. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), concerned about the substantial risks posed by these substances in the event of mishap or cataclysm, has been tasked to mitigate further dangers by conducting a safety evaluation and remove the hazardous materials.
It is paramount to consider that the allegations laid before Miller are that—allegations. The defendant upholds a presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Offering a hand in the case's proceedings are the Hadley Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow. A federal district court judge, informed by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, ultimately bears the weight of sentencing decisions.
