Falls man facing bomb-making, drug charges | Crime

BUFFALO – A federal grand jury has indicted a City of Niagara Falls man whom prosecutors describe as a “self-proclaimed white supremacist” on a series of counts related to trafficking narcotics, building homemade bombs and possessing a stolen firearm.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment of Jeffrey Richards, 28, of Niagara Falls, on Tuesday, the same day he made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Roemer. Federal prosecutors said Richards has been jailed pending further proceedings.

The indictment resulted from an FBI investigation involving the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Niagara Falls Police Department and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office that concluded with a raid late last year at the Packard Court apartment of Richards’ mother.

The announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office follows plea discussions between Richards’ attorney, David Addelman, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Lynch and Brendan Cullinane, who are leading the case. Prosecutors had been in talks with Richards about a plea deal since March, according to documents previously filed in the courts. Richards initially pleaded not guilty in the case.

Barbara Burns, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office, declined to comment regarding the negotiations on Friday.

The statement indicated that Richards is facing numerous charges, including: narcotics conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and alprazolam; maintaining a drug involved-premises; manufacturing controlled substances; creating a substantial risk of harm to human life; unlawfully making and possessing a destructive device; possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of a stolen firearm.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and fine of $5 million.

Richards was initially arrested Dec. 14, following information FBI agents obtained from confidential sources, a criminal complaint filed in the federal courts and a warrant authorization.

After the local wing of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force raided the Packard Court residence, agents said they found 100 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture, five bolt action rifles, two shotguns, large amounts of various ammunition, commercial fireworks and assorted nails, nuts and ball-bearings contained in glass and metal jars.

Agents also discovered explosives “in the shape of a ball with nails inside, wrapped in muffler tape” with a protruding fuse, according to documents previously filed in court. In addition, federal officials documented “white supremacist literature” and “Nazi regalia,” but have refused to elaborate on a description of the materials.

Testimony from one of FBI agents involved in the investigation described Richards as a “self-proclaimed white supremacist,” which Richards’ attorney has denied, along with the other charges.

“He denies that he is a white supremacist and he denies he proclaimed himself to be that,” Addelman said earlier this year.

After the raid in Packard Court, numerous law enforcement officials involved reported flu-like symptoms, but samples analyzed in a laboratory yielded no explanation for the rash of illnesses.