James River Phillips, a 21-year-old resident of Mason, has entered a guilty plea for the illegal transportation of explosive materials. The admission occurred in the U.S. District Court, following his arrest by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in April 2025, where agencies executed search warrants in Mason, Oxford, and Liberty Township.
The investigation revealed that Phillips transported components of an improvised explosive device (IED) to a soccer complex in Lebanon, Ohio, on September 22, 2024. His intent to detonate the IED was thwarted by an alert Lebanon police officer who approached Phillips because the park was closed. During this encounter, the officer discovered the live explosive device. The Butler County Bomb Squad was then called to seize the device. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, tests later revealed the IED was composed of Nickel Hydrazine Nitrate (NHN) and Erythritol Tetranitrate (ETN).
The sentencing phase for Phillips is yet to be scheduled, as the court will determine the date for this proceeding. This case showcases a collaborative effort amongst various law enforcement bodies, including the Lebanon Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Dayton Police Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
Officials such as Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Cincinnati, have been involved in announcing Phillips's guilty plea, which took place before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter is representing the United States in this case. The guilty plea signifies a resolution to a potentially dangerous situation that could have affected the lives of many at a well-visited local park.
