CONNECTICUT – A 53-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for threatening and stalking a Connecticut woman and planting hydrochloric acid-filled bombs in her car after she ended their romantic relationship, federal officials said.
The bombs exploded.
U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny sentenced Frank Mendoza, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida
“Mr. Mendoza terrorized his victim and endangered both his victim and the community,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick. “As a result of a thorough investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Connecticut State Police, the New Haven Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, the Stamford Fire Department and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Mr. Mendoza has been brought to justice.
Adding, “Civilized societies must have zero tolerance for criminals like Mendoza who terrorize not only their victims but the communities in which they reside.”
Mendoza began a romantic relationship with the victim in Jacksonville, Florida in 2008, according to court documents. Mendoza began being “emotionally and psychologically abusive” toward the victim. The victim also learned that Mendoza had a serious prior criminal history and claimed to be affiliated with a gang.
The victim also observed Mendoza carrying a firearm. His abusive and threatening behavior caused the victim to attempt to end the relationship, documents indicate.
In September 2010, as part of a ruse, the victim told Mendoza that she was moving to Rhode Island for a work-related training program. The victim instead moved to Stamford, Connecticut, officials stated.
In October 2010, Mendoza learned that the victim had moved to Connecticut and began to place numerous harassing and threatening phone calls to her, her friends and her work colleagues.
In early November 2010, Mendoza traveled from Florida to Connecticut, visited the victim’s residence and place of work, and then returned to Florida.
On December 8, 2010, Mendoza flew from Florida to New York City, rented a car, drove to the victim’s Connecticut residence, and placed two, two-liter bottles in the victim’s car. The bottles contained hydrochloric acid and an aluminum foil wick.
At about 11:00 p.m. on December 8, 2010, the victim approached her car and observed that the car’s interior had been dampened by a liquid. She also observed a bottle on the driver’s side floor.
When she picked the bottle up, it began to smoke and fizz. She then gently placed the bottle down and ran from the car. The bottle then exploded, court documents show.
The investigation revealed that the first bottle had exploded before the victim had reached the car.
Mendoza has been detained since his arrest in Jacksonville on August 17, 2012. On June 5, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of interstate stalking.