A 34-year-old East Cleveland man already known to federal authorities for a 2012 plot to bomb a Northeast Ohio bridge is facing new charges after a federal grand jury indicted him for possessing ricin, one of the most lethal biological toxins known to science. Brandon L. Baxter was charged with prohibitions regarding biological weapons and possession of a biological toxin by a restricted person, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The indictment, announced Friday, stems from Baxter's status as a legally defined “restricted person,” a category barred from possessing certain biological agents or toxins under federal law. Baxter earned that status after his 2012 conviction in a plot to bomb the Route 82 Brecksville-Northfield High Level Bridge near Macedonia, Ohio, according to Cleveland 19 News.
A Case Rooted in the “Cleveland 5” Plot
Baxter was one of five self-proclaimed anarchists dubbed the “Cleveland 5,” arrested by federal authorities on April 30, 2012, following an extensive FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation, as reported by Fox News. The group had reportedly considered multiple targets in Northeast Ohio before settling on the Route 82 bridge, according to Cleveland Magazine's account of the case. Fox News reported that the alleged drop location was beneath the bridge on the Towpath Trail near the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad station.
The men attempted to detonate what they believed were C-4 explosives, which were actually inert putty supplied by an undercover FBI informant, per the same Cleveland Magazine report. In November 2012, Baxter was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David D. Dowd Jr. to 117 months — nearly 10 years — in federal prison after pleading guilty, even though prosecutors had originally sought a 25-year sentence, according to The Guardian's coverage at the time.
What Ricin Is and Why It's Treated So Seriously
Ricin is a toxin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cleveland 19 News reports that the toxin is lethal to humans even in very small amounts, underscoring the gravity of the charges now facing Baxter.
Investigation, Charges and What Comes Next
The case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office and the East Cleveland Police Department, according to the Department of Justice. Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan T. Brown and DOJ Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Ryan D. White, the department said.
Baxter faces a statutory maximum of up to 15 years in prison if convicted on both biological weapon counts, though any sentence would ultimately be determined by the court. He is scheduled to appear for his initial court appearance and arraignment on October 14 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg, according to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
As with any federal indictment, the charges represent only an accusation, and Baxter is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
